Voting is progressing steadily and peacefully but with some disruption across the 245 constituencies in the country as delegates of the New Patriotic Party elect their respective parliamentary candidates today.
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NPP primaries underway amidst disruption, arrest
Voting has commenced in some 245 constituencies across the country to elect new candidates who will wrestle power for the NPP in 2016 election.
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Some 30 constituencies are not taking part in the June 13 polls due to various internal wrangling some of which have become a subject of legal tussle.
Voting started at 8am in various constituencies with some starting a bit later.
In the Upper West region, the party has strategically deferred opening of nominations for the Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency, a territory ruled by the National Democratic Congress' majority leader in parliament, Alban Bagbin, since 1993.
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With all attention on Wa Central as the main battle ground where five candidates are vying for the slot, the constituency poll has rightly attracted huge media coverage, including even from beyond the region.
Mahama Ishaq, the party's parliamentary candidate in the 2012 general elections, is in a contest with Janet Bibii, Hadi Bawa, Issahaku Moomin Tahiru and Osman Abdul-Hamid for a seat the party is seeking to turn its own for the first time.
In Wa Central, 661 delegates are expected to vote to elect the party's candidate.
In the Greater Accra region, Voting in some constituencies has been suspended as a result of some unknown landguards who are reported to have stormed the Weija-Gbawe constituency.
It is unclear what their mission was by the armed men numbering about 15 who claimed they are there to protect one executive member, Kwesi Badu.
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According to sources, Kwesi Badu was accused of impersonating another member because the his name and picture in the register was different.
The claims which did not go down well for him (Kwesi Badu) turned into a scuffle because he was not allowed to vote and as a result invited landguards to enable him vote.
There is drama already at the Ablekuma North Constituency where a man has been arrested for attempting to vote with an ID card of a dead delegate.
In Ashaiman, voting has started with some 832 delegates expected to vote for one of three candidates, Kwetey Nartey reports. Over 2, 000 delegates will be electing the new aspiring MPs to contest in the 2016 elections.
In the Asokwa constituency of the Ashanti region, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, former Member of Parliament for the Asokwa constituency, has been arrested.
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Mr. Kofi Jumah is reported to have torn the voter register on suspicion that it has been doctored to favour incumbent, Patricia Appiagyei.
Voting has been placed on hold as party officials try to put things in order.
It is the battle of doctors at Kwadaso in Kumasi. Four doctors including former MP Hilda Addo are vying for one ticket.
Two people have been arrested. One for taking snapshot of himself while voting. The other for alleged impersonation.
Two MP hopefuls have also been accused sharing money and distributing motorbikes. Dr. Akoto afriyie gives Gh200 cedis while Dr. Chales Dwomena gives away Apsonic motorbikes.Voting process is smooth here. Unfortunately, three delegates have passed on prior to today's election.
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In the Awutu Senya constituency in the Central Region, voting has stopped because delegates say transportation fare is not enough. Read more .
In the Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency in the Eastern region Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has won with a landslide victory.
Voting has ended at the Suame Constituency in the Ashanti Region. Minority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, and fellow contenders appear relaxed and are writing their victory speeches.
Former deputy minority leader Ambrose Derry has been acclaimed as the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Nandom constituency.
Delegates in the Ada East constituency have disowned an aspirant who contested unopposed in the NPP primaries.
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More soon...
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