The Western Region Chairman of the Vetting Committee for parliamentary aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Fredrick Fredua Anto, has disclosed to 3news.com that the committee received more than 15 petitions from the seven constituencies that appeared before it on the first day of vetting.

Fourteen aspirants from seven constituencies appeared before the F.F. Anto-led Committee on Sunday, March 1.

“The exercise went on smoothly. Everyone comported him or herself. Obviously, whenever there is going to be vetting, people will bring petitions against people they think do not qualify. There were a lot of petitions. I think more than 15 petitions. In one situation there were more than 5 petitions on just one candidate.”

According to him, “Article 4 of our party stipulates that any member who feels aggrieved by anybody’s conduct can write a petition”.

“Most of the aspirants will go through, in my own assertion. But after the exercise, the Vetting Committee will sit down and assess the petitions one after the other. We will look at the evidence before us and compare them with our constitution. Article 12 of our party constitution is very clear on how a Member of Parliament should be selected.”

When asked whether any of the aspirants who have appeared before the committee so far will be disqualified, Mr. Anto said: “Of course somebody will be disqualified at all cost”

More petitions

3news.com is reliably informed that more petitions will be coming in on Day 2 of the vetting exercise.

Sources within the Kwesimentsim office of the party indicate some party members are preparing a petition against the eligibility of Executive Director of National Council for Curriculum and Assement (NaCCA) Dr. Prince Armah to contest the Kwesimentsim seat.

3news.com has also sighted a petition against a Senior Lecturer at the Takoradi Technical University, Dr. Adwoa Kwegyiriba Aggrey, who is seeking to contest the incumbent MP for Effia and Deputy Minister of Energy in Charge of Finance and Infrastructure Joseph Cudjoe.

“That Dr. Adwoa Kwegyiriba Aggrey has never been a resident of the Effia Constituency as required under Article 94 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. She currently resides in the Kwesimentsim Constituency at House Number B80, Anaji Estate, Dr. Linda Van Otoo Street, CK Mann area, where she has stayed for about two years (from 2018 to date),” the petition reads in part.

Earlier in an interview, Western Region Chairman of the party Francis Ndede-Siah indicated that “some petitions have been received, one from Ahanta West, two from Effia and others”.