Termed “orphan constituencies”, these are areas where the party lost the 2016 Parliamentary Elections to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and therefore has no sitting Members of Parliament on the party’s side in Parliament.

Saturday’s constituency delegates conference which would be taking place simultaneously in all 104 constituencies are therefore part of the steps the NPP is taking to win some of those seats in the 2020 general elections.

Two ‘orphans’ on hold

In all there are a total of 106 “orphan constituencies” for the NPP but for now, the primaries in two of such constituencies, Chereponi and Hohoe have been put on hold, Graphic Online has gathered.

Chereponi is on hold because of some grievances in relation to tribal issues whilst Hohoe, where the Minister of Energy, Mr John Peter Amewu is the sole contender has also been put on hold, according to the Director of Elections and Research at the NPP, Mr Evans Nimako.

A total of 283 aspirants have since been given the green light to contest in Saturday’s Parliamentary primaries happening across the country.
Out of the 283 aspirants, it is only 28 of them that are female.

In all, a total of 292 aspirants picked forms for the contest but nine of them were disqualified during the vetting process, Graphic Online understands.

Unopposed aspirants

Out of the 104 constituencies, there are 16 of them where the aspirants would be contesting as unopposed candidates and therefore delegates would decide on their fate through popular acclamation, Graphic Online understands.

The keenly contested elections will, therefore, take place in 92 constituencies. Nominations were opened from July 20, 2019 to August 3, 2019.

Aspirants procured nomination forms at a non-refundable fee of GH¢20,000 through a bankers draft.

In order not to leave anyone behind and to encourage more women, youth and physically challenged persons, the party pegged their fee at GH¢10,000.