After extensive discussions with the Sunyani High Court regarding the validity of the 2020 delegates’ list for the Sunyani East Constituency New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary election, the constituency has officially set March 9, 2024, as the date for the primary election.
Following the closing of nomination submissions last Saturday, two longstanding rivals, the incumbent MP for the area, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, and former envoy to Nigeria and Egypt, George Kumi, have both successfully filed their nominations to compete for the NPP candidacy in the Sunyani East Constituency.
This decision follows the directive from the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP to comply with the court order, which suspended the Sunyani East Constituency’s participation in the 27th parliamentary primaries held nationwide.
The election will proceed based on the recommendation of the Ayimedu committee, which proposed using the 2018 delegates’ list due to time constraints and controversy surrounding the 2020 list.
Consequently, the two candidates, who previously contested against each other in the 2018 primaries and saw Ambassador George Kumi run independently in the 2020 election, are once again competing using the 2018 delegates’ list.
There is significant anticipation among delegates in the constituency regarding the outcome of the primary and who will ultimately represent the party in the 2024 elections.
Several delegates who were excluded in 2020 for various reasons have been reinstated on the list following the Ayimedu committee’s recommendation to revert to the 2018 list.
Mr. Ameyaw-Cheremeh is optimistic about his chances for re-election, citing his track record of accomplishments such as providing school infrastructure, improving road networks, extending electricity to rural communities, supplying water, and other transformative projects that have positively impacted the electorate.
He expressed confidence, stating, “The trust placed in me by both sides of the House to preside over proceedings in the absence of the Speaker of Parliament and his deputies demonstrates the confidence they have in me to return.”
He urged delegates to overwhelmingly vote for him to continue his work in the House.
His nomination materials, including a banker’s draft, passport photos, educational certificates, and signatures from ten party members with valid cards, were submitted to the regional party office and received by Regional Secretary Kofi Ofosu Boateng.
Mr. Ofosu Boateng urged both candidates and their supporters to focus their campaign on issues rather than personal attacks, highlighting the importance of addressing community challenges and offering practical solutions.
