Some 30 constituencies are not taking part in the June 13 polls due to various internal wrangling some of which have become a subject of legal tussle.
Voting started at 8am in various constituencies with some starting a bit later.
Bolgatanga Central delegates queue to vote.
In the Upper East Region alone, 6,200 delegates are voting. 602 of the number are to vote in Bolgatanga Central. Out of the fifteen constituencies in the region, 14 are voting except Pusiga which is one of the 30 constituencies nationwide put on hold due to internal wrangling.
According to TV3’s Upper East Correspondent, Rabiu Tanko, five constituencies in the region would have their candidates go unopposed. They are Zebila, Bongo, Garu, Tempane and Bolga-East.
From the Bolga Central constituency, Rabiu Tanko reports that the ghastly death of the Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama, appears to have slowed down voting with delegates showing apathy.
He however says the numbers keep rising by the minute.
Delegates wait patiently to vote.
TV3 Correspondents across the country say voting is ongoing smoothly and has seen very few hitches so far.
Voting is expected to end at 3:00pm. Some incumbent MPs who went unopposed have already been endorsed.
MP for Manyhia South in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has been retained by popular acclamation with 436 votes. In an interview with TV3, he expressed his appreciation to the delegates for the confidence reposed in him.
His colleague, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei of Tafo Pankrono in the Ashanti Region, was also endorsed by 367 votes to retain his seat.
Dr. Anthony Akoto-Osei(Middle) has been retained for Tafo Pankrono.
Meanwhile there are pockets of unfortunate situations in some constituencies. In Ablekuma North Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, a man has been arrested for attempting to vote with an ID card of a dead delegate.
In Ashaiman in Accra voting has started with some 832 delegates expected to vote for one of three candidates, Kwetey Nartey reports. Over 2, 000 delegates will be electing the new aspiring MPs to contest in the 2016 elections.
There is controversy over voting venue in the Shama constituency in the Western Region. The head of the Methodist church at the Shama circuit has ordered a discontinuation of the voting process which already started late. The preacher man said his premises can’t be used for any political activity.
It is an internal election but the rivalry and machinations have been just as intense as the one set before the country on December 7, 2016.
The 30 constituencies which have been suspended are- Tema East Dome-Kwabenya, Tema West, Tema Central, Ayawaso Central, Okaikoi South, Klottey Korle, Oboom-Domeabra, Ablekuma West and Krowor in the Greater Accra Region; New Edubiase, Akrofuom, Adansi Asokwa, Manhyia North, Juaben and Kumawu, all in the Ashanti Region; Kintampo North in Brong Ahafo; Upper Denkyira West in Central; Talensi in Upper East and Nadowli Kaleo in Upper West; and Ho Central, Nkwanta South, North Dayi, Krachi Nchumuru and Ketu North in the Volta Region, Bia East, Bia West, Juaboso, Akontombra and Kwesimintsim in the Western Region.
Many incumbent MPs whose seats are being fiercely contested, have buckled up to retain the seats; but their contenders have vowed to unseat them no matter what.
One of the new entrant, who’s a former host of Joy FM’s Super morning show, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, is facing two contenders for the Ofoasi Ayirebi constituency.
Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah calmly awaits his political fate
In Accra , Ken Kuranchi of the Daily Searchlight Nrewspaper is eyeing the Okaikoi North constituency together with former Nkawkaw MP Seth Adjei Baah.
In the Central Region, George Andah, a man known to have succeeded in private life in the telcos as a renowned marketer, would have to beat five contenders to become the party’s candidate for the Afutu Senya West Constituency.
If he wins, he would have to wrestle power from the NDC’s Hannah Tetteh in 2016.
By:Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/3news.com/Ghana
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