NDC Vets 14 Candidates In UE Orphan Constituencies

The National Executive of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), through a vetting committee chaired by Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ammpofo, on Saturday, vetted 14 Candidates vying for the Primaries in orphan constituencies in the Upper East Region. The Orphan Constituencies of the Party in the Region are; Bawku Central, Navrongo Central, Chiana-Paga, and Binduri. Two people are contesting in Bawku, three in Navrongo, three in Chiana-Paga and six in Binduri. Some the candidate contesting are; Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, for Navrongo Central, Mr Sampson Tangombu Chiragia, Navrongo Central, and Mr Jacob Adongo also of Navrongo Central. Mr Abuga Pele, National Coordinator of the National Youth Employment Programme and Mr Thomas Dalu Adda, District Chief Executive for Kassena Nankana West, all for Chiana Paga, Mr Mahama Ayariga, Deputy Minister of Education, for Bawku Central and Mr Issahaku Bukari, a development worker also for Bawku Central. Among the six contesting for Binduri is a 36 year old Ghanaian based in Virginia, United Sates of America, Mr Stephen Atubiga. Mr Ofosu- Ampofo told the GNA that the vetting exercise went on smoothly and that out of the 14 people who were vetted, one person known as Mr Mark Mumuni from the Binduri Constituency did not qualify. He said Mr Stephen Atubiga, another person who went through the vetting, was being investigated to check whether he was a citizen of the country or had double citizenship since he lived abroad. He explained that apart from that, all the rest went through the vetting successfully and were advised to go about their campaigns with decorum devoid of insults when the campaign process begin. Mr Ofosu- Ampofo told the Constituency Executives who accompanied their respective candidates, to ensure that a fair level ground was created for all of them during the campaign period, stressing that the interest of the party should be supreme. He said the Party did not vet that of the Builsa South which was one of the Orphan constituencies because the Parliamentary candidate for the area who was from the People�s National Convention, supports the NDC in Parliament. Mr Donatus Akamugre, the Regional Secretary of the Party, explained that the criteria that were used for the vetting process included "that a member should be of good standing, card bearing member and active member of the party for two years. "That a person should also be qualified under the national laws of the Country to represent a constituency as a Member of Parliament and said Mr Mark Mumuni who was disqualified during the vetting process did not meet the criteria".