Even before the body of the late Member of Parliament (MP) for Atiwa, Kwasi Annor Ankamah, is brought down from London for burial, some influential party people in the constituency are seriously scheming for their favourite candidates to replace him. Last Friday, DAILY GUIDE visited the constituency and Abomosu, the hometown of the late MP, where the family and loved ones had met to observe a one week traditional celebration of the death of the MP. The paper learnt that the immediate past district chief executive of Atiwa under the Kufuor administration, Kwasi Osei Agyapong, a native of Abomosu, and the presiding member of the assembly, who contested the primary with the late MP Amoako Atta, have already expressed interest in standing on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) in the forthcoming by-election. Also in the race is Nana Asante Bediatuo, an investment lawyer and Okyenhene’s Apagyahene, who is said to be ready to abdicate his throne. Nana Bediatuo is from the district capital Kwabeng, where he had been voting since 2004. A Law Lecturer at the University of Ghana Law Faculty, Kwame Gyan, has been mentioned but it is not yet clear if he will contest. Daily Guide learnt that the constituency executives are backing Lawyer Amoako Atta but Agyapong also says he has a very good chance of winning the primary because the youth are backing him. At the one week celebrations, no tentative date was agreed on for the burial of the late MP, even though the family suggested August 28 for the burial. Parliament and the NPP say they will have to consult the family for a date that will be suitable to all parties since they all have a stake in the burial of the late MP. Daily Guide also learnt that the Electoral Commission will have to come out with a date for the by-election before a date for the burial could be agreed on. All over the constituency, people were seen mourning their late MP as they wore his T-shirts. Regional executives of the party led other constituency executives from Abuakwa South, Nkawkaw and Atiwa to mourn with the family on the first week celebration. The party delegation was led by the first vice regional chairman, Alhaji Umar Bodinga. NPP MPs in the region also delegated some people to represent them because they were attending to a very serious Bill in Parliament last Friday. The MPs donated some drinks and an amount of GH¢300, while Nana Akufo-Addo, who was represented by Guggisberg Ofori-Atta, a former member of the Council of State, also donated GH¢300 to the family. It is also clear that ruling party, National Democratic Congress (NDC), will select the current DCE, Emmanuel Atta Twum, who contested the seat on the party’s ticket in the 2008 general elections, for the by-election. Source: Daily Guide