Parliament to lose experienced legislators as 18 NPP MPs bow out

Parliament is set to lose some of its experienced legislators as some senior Members of Parliament (MPs) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have decided not to seek re-election.

When the party closed nominations for parliamentary primaries in constituencies where the party has sitting MPs on December 25, 2023, a number of old faces had bowed out of the race.

The Ashanti Region, the NPP’s strongest base, has nine incumbents taking a bow. They are the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Bekwai, Joseph Osei-Owusu; Majority Leader and MP for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu; MP for Oforikrom, Dr Emmanuel Marfo; MP for Ahafo Ano South East, Francis Manu Adabor; Benito Owusu-Bio, Atwima Nwabiagya; MP for Kwabre East, Francisca Oteng-Mensah; MP for Ahafo Ano South West, Johnson Adu; MP for Afigya Kwabre South, William Owuraku Aidoo, and MP for Ahafo Ano North, Suleman Sanid.

Other old faces who have decided not to contest are Samuel Atta Akyea, Abuakwa South; Joe Ghartey, Essikado Ketan; Kennedy Agyapong, Assin Central; Dan Botwe, Okere; Kwasi Amoako-Atta, Atiwa West; Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Sefwi Wiawso; Carlos Ahenkora, Tema West; Nana Kwasi Adjei Boateng, New Juaben North, and Ahanta West, Kojo Kum.

Primaries
The party has fixed January 27, 2024 to conduct elections to elect candidates for the constituencies. On December 20, 2023, the NPP opened nominations for aspiring parliamentary candidates in constituencies where the party has sitting MPs and closed the exercise on Christmas Day.

New faces
Some new aspirants have come up . They include Michael Oquaye Jnr., Roni Nicol, Hayford Siaw, Alois Mohl and Bice Osei Kuffuor alias Obour who will contest in the Dome-Kwabenya, Ablekuma West, Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Nandom and Asante Akyem South respectively.

The others are Commissioner of Police (retd) Alex Mensah for Bekwai, Raphael Agyapong for Bantama, Dr Gideon Boako for Tano North, and Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh for Ahafo Ano North.