Politics of Monday, 22 June 2020

Source: rainbowradioonline.com

Defeat of Assibey-Yeboah and others a terrible blow for Parliament - Ras Mubarak

Member of Parliament for Kunbumgu, Ras Mubarak Member of Parliament for Kunbumgu, Ras Mubarak

The Member of Parliament for Kunbumgu, Ras Mubarak says the defeat of Mark Assibey-Yeboah and other sitting MPS in the parliamentary primaries of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is a big blow to parliament.

He said 40 MPs losing their seats in the primaries will affect the work of parliament because some of them are chairpersons of committees in parliament.

Some sitting MPs have lost their seats in the primaries held on Saturday.

Reacting to this, the MP who also lost his bid to represent his party in the NDC primaries a few months ago said he felt sad and disappointed that some experienced MPs lost their bid.

In an interview with Kwabena Agyapong on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm posited that it cannot correct for anyone to argue that the MPs lost because the delegates disliked them.

Ras Mubarak was worried, the issue of money and vote-buying has taken over the primaries of political parties because political parties have limited the number of delegates who decide who represent them in parliament.

Ghana’s democracy he noted will deepen if parties allow all members of the party to elect their representatives.

”Party members pay dues but when it comes to voting to elect representatives, we allow only a few to decide. That is dangerous. It is dangerous because it provides an opportunity for big gurus sitting somewhere to use their resources to manipulate the system,” he said.

The limitation he lamented also leads to blackmail where delegates use all forms of strategies to extort money from candidates.



For him, if we are serious about ending corruption, then political parties must review the processes of their internal primaries.

He said the defeat of Assibey-Yeboah, Kennedy Kankam – Nhyiaeso Constituency and Ben Abdallah Banda – Offinso South Constituency, is a terrible blow for parliament.

He further argued that we spend a lot of money building the capacity of new MPs and if care is not talking we will spend a lot of resources building capacities and having experienced MPs removed.

The full list of losers in the Saturday primaries is below

Greater Accra Region

Vincent Sowah Odotei – La Dadekotopon
Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh – Ablekuma North
Ahmed Arthur – Okaikwei South
Alhaji Habib Saad – Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro
Kofi Brako -Tema Central

Central Region

Abraham Odoom – Twifo Atti Morkwa
Anthony Effah – Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa

Ashanti Region

Daniel Okyem Aboagye – Bantama Constituency
Collins Owusu Amankwah – Manhyia North Constituency
Kwabena Owusu Aduomi – Ejisu Constituency
Kwame Asafu-Adjei – Nsuta/Kwamang/Beposo
Kennedy Kankam – Nhyiaeso Constituency
Ben Abdallah Banda – Offinso South Constituency



Western Region

Ato Panford-Shama Constituency
Joe Mensah – Kwesimintsim constituency
Alex Agyeku-Mpohor Constituency
Patrick Bogyako Kwame Saime- Amenfi East Constituency

Upper West Region

Godfred Bayong Tangu-Wa East Constituency
Patrick Adama-Sissala West
Ridwan Abass-Sissala East

Eastern Region

Mark Assibey-Yeboah – New Juaben South Constituency
Seth Kwame Acheampong – Mpraeso constituency
William Agyapong Qauitoo – Akim Oda Constituency
Opare Ansah – Suhum Constituency
Ama Sey- Akwatia Constituency
Kwabena Ohemeng- Tinyase Kade Constituency
Robert Kwasi Amoah – Achiase Constituency

Northern Region

Charles Bintin – Saboba Constituency
Alhaji Wahab Wumbei – Tolon Constituency

Bono Region

Dr. Kwabena Twum Nuamah – Berekum East Constituency
Kwasi Sabi – Dormaa East Constituency

North-East Region

Dr. Sagre Bambangi – Walewale Constituency

Upper East Region

Joseph Kofi Adda – Navrongo Central Constituency