Over five thousand two hundred delegates are expected to vote in the nine constituencies in Oti Region.
Over 600 out of this number have already begun casting their votes at the Dambai College of Education in the Krachi East District.
A trip round some of the polling centres reveals a calm atmosphere with heavy police presence.
According to a survey by global info analytics, Dr. Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong are likely to split votes in the Oti region, but Bawumia’s supporters in the regional capital disagree.
Approximately 204,144 delegates will elect the party’s candidate for the 2024 presidential election at 277 centres throughout the country.
Member of Parliament for Assin Central Constituency Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former MP for Kwadaso and until recently the Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former MP for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh are the four aspirants vying for the enviable position.
It will be the first time in nearly 16 years that the ruling party will choose a new face into a major election. The party has kept faith with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo since he won the 2007 primaries at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana.
His perennial contender Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, who served in his government as Minister of Trade and Industry from 2017 till 2023, withdrew from the Saturday’s race after complaining of intimidation of his supporters and partiality in the Super Delegates Conference to form his new movement.
He resigned from the party in a press conference on Monday, September 25 and subsequently announced his decision to contest the 2024 elections as an independent candidate.
Another candidate, Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko, who was joint fifth with Mr Addai-Nimoh in the August 26 elections, also withdrew from the race after the National Council decided to vote to separate them.
He described as unconstitutional the National Council’s decision to determine the fifth candidate.
The separate outcomes of the two’s decision have left four candidates to contest for the single slot of NPP flagbearer.
The four were on Thursday, November 2 made to sign an undertaking to remain with the party without recourse to the outcome of the primaries. This was after a crucial meeting with the Council of Elders in the presence of President Akufo-Addo.
Job Kwabena Laboja