NPP Primaries: Tema Central contest reduced to ‘father and sons’ race

The ongoing contest among members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to determine who represents the party in various constituencies into the 2020 elections has seen some interesting twists.

One constituency that has seen such twists is the Tema Central Constituency where the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hon. Kofi Brako, is being contested by three strong candidates, some of whom are his own protégés.

Among the three people contesting the sitting MP, one of them appears to be the most forceful – Yves Hanson-Nortey – except for one reason.

Mr Hanson-Nortey, adomonline.com has gathered, is distributing vehicles to delegates to be used for services such as Uber and the rest.

But while that may appear to be a good gesture, the move is also courting disaffection for him among some delegates.

Why

There are 540 delegates who will be voting in the Tema Central NPP contest but Mr Hanson-Nortey car-distribution strategy, according to our checks, has only reached 71 of such delegates.

The move has left a number of other delegates livid with many of them wondering why the aspiring PC will, from the word go, segregate.

It must be said that the few 71 who have benefitted from the move are happy with the aspiring MP’s impact on their lives.

For many of them, it is a job secured no matter the intentions behind what is a ‘work-and-pay arrangement between the aspiring PC and them.

Why ‘Father and Sons’ Contest?

Hon. Kofi Brako who is affectionately called KB was a 1^st Vice Chairman of Tema Central from 2002 to 2007 who was twice a Campaign Manager for Hon Ishmael Ashitey when he contested to become MP.

He won Tema East Primaries in 2011 but when the Tema Central Constituency was created in 2012 he switched to Tema Central to make way for Agyemang Prempeh Ramseyer who is now one of the persons contesting KB.

Charles Forson, one of the persons contesting KB was introduced into Tema Central politics by KB in 2013 where he later became an Electoral Area Coordinator.

Yves Hanson-Nortey was within the Tema West constituency who was co-opted to become a Polling Station Chairman prior to the creation of Tema Central and this was also because his area in Tema West became part of Tema Central.

In all these, the incumbent MP, KB, who they are all contesting has been instrumental.

What is the MP doing to counter competition?

 Hon Kofi Brako says his achievements will do the trick for him as he has outlined a number of interventions made in the areas of education, security, environment and sanitation.

In the area of education, the MP has constructed a 40-seater ultra-modern computer laboratory fully furnished with all the necessary ICT facilities for the Pupils of Republic Road JHS, Community 4 behind the Church of Pentecost.

He has also constructed a modern 7-seater sanitary facility for Community 8 No. 3 JHS with Computer Networking and Internet Facility at a cost of GHS 65,000.00, among other achievements.

To secure his constituency, the MP says he has committed an amount of GHS 15,000 towards the construction of security check post at Community 10 after the SOS.

The Community 9 market has also been connected to the national grid under the MP’s tenure.