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Campaigning has intensified in some constituencies in Tema ahead of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s parliamentary primaries on November 21.

While incumbent members of parliament (MP) in strongholds of the party in the region are busily campaigning to convince the electorate about their achievements, their contenders are also doing all they could to discredit them and challenge their efforts.

Even as the day of ‘judgment’ draws near, many residents, both members and non-members of the ruling NDC keep wondering, if the incumbent MPs; Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, Kpone-Katamanso MP and Greater Accra Regional Minister; Mr Alfred Agbesi, MP for Ashaiman and Deputy Majority Leader; and long serving Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, Ningo-Prampram MP and a Member of the Presidential Priority Task Force; would be kicked out of parliament by their contenders or would still wax strong after the Saturday primaries.

Mr Afotey Agbo, who is contesting to be the MP for the fourth time, is being challenged by Mr Joseph Akuetter Tettey, a Business Consultant and a former constituency organiser for Kpone-Katamanso.

The incumbent MP won the seat in the 2012 election, with 33,598 votes representing 57.25 per cent after he went unopposed on the ticket of the NDC.

Information gathered by the Ghana News Agency indicates that even though the natives of Kpone are crying for an MP from their enclave, since the incumbent hail from Nungua, Mr Tettey is unlikely to win the primary, as many of the registered members are for the Regional Minister.

Both the incumbent and Mr Tettey are currently embarking on house- to-house campaign to convince the electorate to endorse them.

Mr Tettey has so far been overshadowed by the vibrant former cadre who is making an excellent use of his incumbency and the political trappings of his ministerial portfolio.

He recently joined the Kpone-Katamanso District Assembly (KKDA) to inaugurate some development projects he initiated in the constituency to cement his campaign message.

The projects included roads, classroom blocks, presentation of dual desks, desktop computers, school uniforms and commissioning of market sheds.

The situation at Ningo-Prampram could best be described as ‘a clash of relatives,’ as Mr Mensah is being challenged by the son of his cousin, Mr Samuel George Nartey, a presidential staffer.

While Mr Mensah has described Mr Nartey as a ‘naive small boy, who wants to bite the hand that fed him,’ his contender has expressed gratitude to him for giving him the opportunity to work under him over the years.

Even though Mr Mensah is a native of Prampram, most of the NDC youth are openly supporting Mr Nartey, while the elderly root for him.

The incumbent Mr Mensah during the 2012 election obtained 21,178 votes representing 54.06 per cent to beat the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s Mr Sylvester Tetteh, who got 17,122 as compared to the 28,490 votes representing 73.70 per cent obtained by President John Dramani Mahama in the area.

In the Ashaiman constituency, Mr Alfred Agbesi, the incumbent, is being challenged by five other people with Mr Ernest Norgbey, a businessman, highly tipped to topple him.

Most of the NDC faithful in the Ashaiman constituency became disappointed in the incumbent, when he announced early in the year that he would contest the seat again, even though he had promised not to contest after the 2012 elections.

Meanwhile, four people are contesting to represent the NDC in Tema East; they include Mr Robert Kempes Ofosuware, a former Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tema and the NDC candidate for the constituency in the 2012 elections.

Mr Ofosuware during 2012 lost the election with three votes to Mr Daniel Titus Glover of the NPP.

The other contenders are Michael Nii Abbey, Mr Noah Apedoe, and Nii Bediako Krakue.

The four candidates are concentrating their campaigning in Tema Manhean as most of the party members reside there.

Tema East also remains the only constituency that could easily swing in view of Mr Kempes’ near victory in the 2012 last election.

The Tema West ticket is being contended for by Mr Bill Boglo-Hedo, a Pension Consultant and Mr James Enu, a lawyer.

While 30-year-old Boglo-Hedo is in the race for the first time, his contender Mr Enu, in 2012, contested as the NDC candidate for the Tema Central constituency, but decided to change post.

The constituency’s race came to the limelight when some of the youth went to the residence of Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, First Vice Chairman of the NDC, to convince him to contest the seat again on the party’s ticket.

Only one candidate, Ms Ebi Bright, an actress and a film producer, has picked and filed nomination to contest for the Tema Central constituency on the ticket of the CPP.

The Tema Central constituency is a firmly established NPP zone. No wonder Lawyer Enu avoided it this time, thus leaving the vast field to the lesser known actress who would eventually come face to face with Mr Kofi Brako, the NPP MP, whose attributes resonate even in common gossips among housewives.