Filing of parliamentary nomination forms of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region on Thursday ended successfully with 6 people filing to contest in the Bongo constituency primaries. The Bongo constituency has been noted to be one of the party’s strong hold.
NDC has since 1992 won the Bongo constituency seat with the incumbent Member of Parliament Albert Abongo winning on the ticket of the party since the year 2000. However Mr. Abongo after serving his constituents for 3 consecutive tenures has decided not to contest again.
It is against this backdrop that 6 parliamentary hopefuls have popped up to contest in the upcoming primaries with the hope of retaining the seat for the NDC in the 2016 general elections.
Notable people in the race include former Upper East Regional minister, Dr. Ephraim Avea Nsoh whose removal brought about series of demonstrations.
Mr. Avea has entered the race and pledged to operate an open door policy if he is given the mandate as Member of Parliament.
According to him, it was through his contributory efforts that Gurune language became accepted as an examinable language and studied in some colleges of education in the country.
The former regional minister disclosed this in an address to a cheering crowd of party supporters after submitting his parliamentary nomination forms at the party’s constituency office in Bongo Thursday. Dr. Avea added that he has empowered some women financially through village savings and loans in Bongo.
“You have heard of camps here and there, asked yourself if I belong to any camp. I am for everybody and I don’t discriminate” he stated.
A legal practitioner, lawyer Charles Adongo Bawa Duah at the close of nominations of the party’s parliamentary primaries in Bongo also submitted his form. Lawyer Bawa first entered the NDC primaries but lost in 2012. He cited his contribution to the formation of a division one league in Bongo, donation of computers, teaching and learning materials to some schools in the area. He reiterated his optimism that the party members will give him the mandate to lead the party.
“Now that the honorable MP has done his part and has decided to hand over the mantle, it is only just fair that I should be the best person to take over. Having worked directly under him (Albert Abongo) it surprises me that so many people have come out for this race. Sometime ago it was a question and if you had asked anybody then who will take over from Abongo when he retires the natural answer will be Lawyer Charles Bawa” the legal practitioner stated.
Detective Corporal Robert Awuka of the Accra Central police station has also entered the race for the parliamentary slot of the NDC. Mr. Awuka refuted assertions that per his profession he is not eligible to go into active partisan politics stating that the constitution does not bare him from entering the race.
“Empowerment is very paramount in my agenda, how to empower the youth and women to be on their own that will bring development to the area” he said.
Another person who is contesting the NDC primaries for the second time in Bongo is Edward Abambire Bawa, a communication consultant to the Energy ministry.
Upper East Regional secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress Donatus Akamukri is amongst the 6 parliamentary hopefuls hoping to clinch victory in the November 7 primaries. He was defeated by Albert Abongo after obtaining 70 votes against Abongo’s 132 votes in the last parliamentary primaries.
By: Joshua Asaah/A1radioonline.com/Ghana
