About 496 delegates are expected to cast their votes Saturday to elect a parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP)  in the Manhyia North Constituency in the Ashanti Region.

The opposition party has been without a parliamentary candidate ahead of this year's crucial election due to disagreements over contents of the constituency's register.

After many postponements for other reasons, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP called for a rerun of all elections in the Manhyia North Constituency from the polling station level to the constituency executive level before the election of a parliamentary aspirant can take place.

The party explained in a letter signed by its Acting General Secretary, Mr John Buadu, that it arrived at the decision considering a Supreme Court ruling on April 9, 2014, which called for the annulment of the existing constituency album and ordered a rerun.

The errors were rectified in June this year and the party went on to elect new constituency executives.

Manhyia North remains the only constituency not to have elected a candidate to contest for the seat currently occupied by Collins Owusu Amankwah, who is also running for re-nomination.

Today, voting is underway to choose a parliamentary representative for the party in the constituency.

All three candidates -- Collins Owusu Amnakwah, Richard Osei Bamfo and Kwasi Konadu -- are optimistic of winning the support of the delegates. The primary is coming off at the Longford Hotel.

Police have been deployed to the area to provide adequate security for the process.

 

Extra Info on NPP parliamentary primaries at Manhyia North.

1. Unlike four years ago, where five contesters vied, three candidates are contesting today.  

2. Two of the five who contested in 2012 are back in the race including the incumbent.

3. Akwasi Konadu, who came third in 2012 is also contesting. He is an accountant. 

4. Nana Osei Baffour is a newcomer. Until now, he was a Consultant with the UN Development Programme at the Disaster Risk and Recovery Department.

5. All candidates are optimistic of winning to represent the party.

6. The contesters are at peace with each other; exchanging greetings and hugging each other. 

7. No hooting of contesters or anything of its like as it was perceived or expected to happen.

8. All the contesters have spoken to the media except the incumbent who has declined. No reason has been given so far but he appears to be more concerned about the election.

9. The presence of the police personnel and the delta force of the party are visible here.

10. So far no indication of possible violence.

11. The process is smooth and it is likely to end in an hour's time.

12. Party supporters are here in numbers to support their favourite contesters.

13. No any national or regional executives has been spotted here so far.