Live Updates: Over 200,000 Delegates Vote In NPP Presidential Primaries To Elect 2024 Flagbearer
Good day, and welcome to this live update on the New Patriotic Party's highly-anticipated presidential primary, which is currently underway nationwide on Saturday, November 4, 2024.
This primary is a crucial step in determining the NPP's flagbearer for the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Four distinguished candidates are competing for the NPP's presidential ticket, and they are Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, former Agriculture Minister Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and former MP for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh.
Voting commenced early in the day, and the process has been running smoothly so far. However, there has been a postponement of voting in the Sunyani East constituency due to an injunction secured against the process.
In total, 208,342 delegates are expected to cast their ballots across various constituencies in the country to choose one out of the four aspirants. The composition of the delegates is diverse and includes:
398 Members of Parliament (MPs)/Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs)
28 Ministers/Deputy Ministers
50 Foundation Members
61 National Council members
30 Patrons and Council of Elders
272 Regional Officers
4,675 Constituency Officers
1,375 Constituency Patrons
1,375 Constituency Council of Elders
6,272 Electoral Area Coordinators
193,110 Polling Station Executives
405 Overseas Branches
291 members of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON)
The NPP Presidential Election Committee has provided information that the polling process will begin at 7:00 a.m. and conclude at 2:00 p.m. at each voting centre.
Furthermore, each contestant will be allowed to have two accredited agents, but only one polling agent will represent a contestant at each polling station at all times.
Stay tuned for more updates on this pivotal event in Ghana's political landscape.
Follow the minute-by-minute update of events here.
Afriyie Akoto concedes to Bawumia before official results are declared
One of the flagbearer aspirants of the NPP presidential primaries, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, says he has conceded defeat to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of the official declaration of results.
He told Joy News that he had already called the Vice President to congratulate him and assured him of his support to enable the NPP 'Break the 8.
"First of all let me congratulate the Vice President for such an emphatic victory. It means the New Patriotic Party has spoken with a huge voice that we have chosen Dr Bawumia to lead us into the elections next year," he said.
Provisional results show Bawumia is in a commanding lead in Ashanti Region
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is heading for victory in the Ashanti Region constituencies, according to results trickling in.
The results show the Vice President is in a massive lead over Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
Across constituencies too Dr Bawumia seems to have a healthy lead over Ken Agyapong, his closest contender with a little over 60% of votes cast.
Voting ends, results trickling in shows Bawumia is in a narrow lead
Provisional results trickling in from the NPP presidential primaries show Dr Bawumia and Ken Agyapong are in a neck-to-neck competition:
Shama constituency
Kennedy Agyapong – 385
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia- 233
Afriyie Akoto- 0
Addai Nimo – 0
Amenfi East constituency
Kennedy Agyapong – 419
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia – 620
Francis Addai Nimo – 6
Dr Afriyie Akoto – 6
Yunyoo Constituency
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong – 0
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia – 387
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto -0
Francis Addai-Nimoh – 0
Damongo constituency
Kennedy Agyapong - 48
Bawumia - 416
Akoto Osei - 4
Francis Adai-Nimoh- 2
Rejected- 4
Central Tongu Constituency result.
Ken - 271
Bawumia - 266
Addei Nimo - 2
Dr. Akoto - 4
North Dayi constituency
Ken Agyapong -185
Bawumia - 179
Adai Nimoh- 1
Dr Afriyie Akoto - 5
Rejected- 8
Tema East Constituency Provisional Results
I. Ken Ohene Agyapong - 327
2. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia - 808
3. Dr Afriyie Akoto - 2
4. Francis Addai- Nimoh - 7
Total delegates - 1,208
Total Vote Cast - 1,174
Rejected - 7
Spoiled - 1
Gomoa Central
Ken Agyapong 438
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia 149
Dr. Afriyie Akoto 2
Addai Nimo 1
Tema East Constituency Provisional Results
I. Ken Ohene Agyapong - 327
2. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia - 808
3. Dr Afriyie Akoto - 2
4. Francis Addai- Nimoh - 7
Total delegates - 1,208
Total Vote Cast - 1,174
Rejected - 7
Spoiled - 1
EFFIDUASE/ASOKORE CONSTITUENCY:
509 VOTERS
TOTAL VOTES CAST :483
PROXY : 9
ABSENT: 26
HON. KENNEDY AGYAPONG: 30
DR MAHAMUDU BAWUMIA : 450
DR OWUSU AFRIYIE AKOTO: 0
FRANCIS ADDAE NIMOH: 1
REJECTED: 2
Source: Facebook
Kpando Constituency
Ken Agyapong - 245
Mahamudu Bawumia - 181
Adai Nimo - 2
Akoto Afriyie - 3
Rejected - 7
Akufo-Addo runs away from question on economy during NPP presidential primaries
President Akufo-Addo refused to answer a question on how he has managed the economy shortly after casting his ballot in the NPP presidential primaries.
Journalists mobbed him while heading back to this vehicle, asking questions at random.
A video of the incident captured him saying "it is the people who will decide the winner [of the polls]".
Then another journalist asked him:
"Mr President, would you say you have managed the economy well?"
Surprised by the question, he answered:
"You want me to talk about that now, today?" He then let out a smile and sat in his vehicle.
Delegates boycott voting in Suame they've not received Kennedy's "lorry fare"
In a dramatic turn of events, more than 200 NPP delegates from the Suame Constituency are considering boycotting the presidential primaries unless they receive financial support from Kennedy Agyapong's camp.
According to a recent report by TV3, while over 800 delegates have already cast their votes, this group of 200 is contemplating staying away from the event, citing the lack of what they refer to as "transport money" as their main concern.
In interviews with TV3, two of these delegates expressed their frustration and issued a warning to Kennedy Agyapong, urging him to make his presence felt in the constituency if he expected their votes.
They also noted that they had received financial support from the camp of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia but had not yet heard from Kennedy Agyapong.
One of the delegates suggested that Kennedy Agyapong might have allocated funds for their 'transport,' but they have not received any assistance. They called on Agyapong's representatives to disburse the funds promptly, or they would refuse to vote.
"We've come a long way, so we need help. We don't have a problem with Bawumia, but where is Ken? We are waiting for Ken; otherwise, we will not vote," one delegate stated.
The issue of alleged vote-buying has cast a shadow over the ongoing NPP presidential primaries taking place on November 4, 2023.
Regenerate
Akufo-Addo arrives with convoy to cast his ballot at NPP HQ
There was excitement at the NPP headquarters when President Nana Akufo-Addo arrived to cast his ballot for the party's flagbearer.
A video that captures his arrival also shows people chanting "Victory for Bawumia" to suggest that the president is very likely to vote for his vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in the contest.
Awutu Senya West: Delegate arrested for attacking colleagues with knife over money
Police moved in quickly to prevent a possible fatal incident during the ongoing NPP presidential election.
They arrested a delegate for allegedly attacking other delegates with a knife during a disagreement over the distribution of money.
The incident happened in the Awutu Senya West Constituency of the Central Region.
NPP presidential primaries hit by more allegations of vote buying
The ongoing NPP presidential primaries have been hit by allegations of vote-buying across the country.
Delegates are openly confessing that they took envelopes containing from the camps of both Kennedy Agyapong and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the two main contenders.
In the La Dade Kotokopon constituency, TV3 reports that some delegates are claiming to have received GHC450 from the camp of the vice president.
In another video that has gone viral on social media, a candidate by the name Sir Collins explained that he chose to vote for Kennedy Agyapong because he appreciated the money he offered him more than that of the vice president.
In an interview with GHOne TV, Collins expressed his strong dissatisfaction, describing it as an insult, that Dr Bawumia, who aspires to be the party's flagbearer, offered delegates a meagre GH¢400 each.
Delegate claims he voted for Kennedy Agyapong because Bawumia gave him only GHS400
A video has gone viral in which a delegate is heard telling a reporter in Twi that he voted for Kennedy Agyapong because Vice President Dr Bawumia gave him only GHS400.
The delegate said Ken, who is not in government paid him GHS300, stressing that Bawumia's decision to give delegates was an insult.
YEN.com.gh cannot authenticate the claims by the delegate.
Delegate arrested at Kasoa for flouting voting rules, he was caught taking a photo of his ballot
Police personnel at a polling centre in Kasoa in the Central Region have arrested a delegate for breaching voting regulations in the ongoing NPP presidential primaries.
The unnamed man was arrested for secretly taking a photo of his ballot after voting.
In a video posted on Facebook by Metro TV, the man is captured in a handcuff as police interrogate him.
Assin Central: Confusion erupts between Ken and Bawumia supports
There is agitation in the Assin Central constituency as supporters of Kennedy Agyapong accuse the Bawumia camp of secretly checking the voting decisions of voters.
A video published by Twi-speaking Sompa FM captures a polling agent for Ken Agyapong accusing the Bawumia camp of intimidation.
"Someone is sitting down, another person is standing and checking how people voted. Why would they do that? Bawumia's agent is the person doing this. We have complained, but they are still doing it...that is why we are angry. Police have refused to stop that.That is why there is confusion. We resist any attempt to intimidate us," the polling agent said in Twi.
Voting delayed Pru East
Information tricking in from Pru East in the Bono East Region is that voting has not started more than three hours after the official time that voting was expected to begin.
The reason for the delay is sketchy, however, reports say there is a heavy police presence there and EC officials are setting up to enable voting to start.
Some 530 delegates are expected to cast their ballots in the Pru East constituency.
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful confident Bawumia will win with over 80% of votes
Minister for Communications and Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has said no candidate is more suitable as NPP flagbearer than Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
She made the comments after casting her ballots in the ongoing presidential primaries.
"Everyone will see their smoothness level by 3:00 p.m. today [when collation and counting would have completed]," she said.
I will beat Mahama hands down if I win - Kennedy Agyapong boasts
Kennedy Agyapong has told reporters that he will beat NDC's John Dramani Mahama in 2024 if he is elected as the party's flagbearer.
He made the comments while inspecting some voting centres where the primaries are taking place.
"If it is Ken Agyapong, I will be Mahama hands down. No doubt about it...what Ghanaians are expecting is a bold and honest leader," he said.
Kennedy Agyapong also expressed satisfaction with the election process at the polling centres he visited.
Police deployed to NPP head office
Police officials have been dispatched to the NPP headquarters to oversee the presidential primaries.
Photos trending online show scores of security personnel in neat uniforms at the party's head office to ensure smooth polls.
Police released a statement earlier to assure the public that adequate personnel have been dispatched to voting centres across the country to ensure the elections are successful.
