111 file to contest 26 seats in Western Region

One hundred and eleven parliamentary candidates have filled their nomination papers to contest 26 constituencies in the Western Region.        They are made up of 99 males and 12 females.      Figures made available to the Ghana News Agency in Sekondi on Tuesday by the Western Regional Office of the Electoral Commission (EC), indicated that both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) topped the list by filing candidates in all the 26 constituencies. The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) followed with 23, the Convention Peoples Party (CPP),12, the People's National Convention(PNC),9,the National Democratic Party(NDP),7, as well as eight independent candidates.           Hitherto, the Region have 26 constituencies as a result of the creation of four additional constituencies this year, which are Bodi, Bia East, Kwesiminstim and Mpohor with an overall registered voter population of about 1.4 million.        In the 2008 general elections, in which 22 were up for grabs, the NDC won 11 seats; NPP won 10 with one seat (Jomoro) going to Madam Samia Yaba Nkrumah of the CPP.          In the Shama Constituency, four aspirants are battling it out to become the legislator for the area including the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Kwodow Essilfie, 62, of the NDC, Mr. Joseph Gabrah, of the NPP, Joseph Essuman of the PPP and Samuel Manful of the CPP.       At the Essikadu-Ketan, the sitting-MP, Joe Ghartey of the NPP is facing fierce contest from Thomas Charlie Brown of the NDC, Joseph Essandoh of the PPP and a 59-year old agriculturist, Ebo Graham of the PNC.       The Takoradi seat, which the NPP had occupied for the past 12 years had the incumbent MP, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah of the NPP, Alfred Ekow Gyan of the NDC and Vivian Arthur of the PPP in contention.        The Sekondi Constituency had four parliamentary aspirants including experienced politician and sitting-MP, Papa Owusu Ankomah of the NPP, Captain Retired Anthony Richard Cudjoe of the NDC, who is also the Mayor for Sekondi-Takoradi, Ahoah Henry Solor of the CPP and one independent candidate, Armah Nyamekye.          Wassa East has Isaac Adjei-Mensah for the NDC, Wilson Arthur for the NPP who is also the Chief Executive Officer for Skyy Power FM and Television and Twumasi-Ankrah Moses for the PPP.          The newly created Mpohor constituency has three candidates including Lawyer Anthony Bassaw of the NDC, Alex Kofi Agyekum of the NPP and Mary Ankomah of the PPP.        Francis Apuri of the NDC, Joe Baidoe-Ansah of the NPP, Maxwell Okyere-Ahenkorah of the PPP and lawyer Nana Abakah, an independent, are contesting the Kwesimintsim seat.        Effia constituency which was carved from the Effia-Kwesimintsim have four candidates including Mohammed Barkwa Ali of the NDC, who is also the presiding member for the Sekondi-Takoradi Assembly, Joseph Cudjoe of the NPP, Theresa Baffowa Lartey of the PPP and Alexander Prince Yawson of the PNC.      Four contestants are in the race for the Ahanta West seat with sitting-MP, Samuel Johnfiah of the NPP facing keen competition from the NDC's George Kwame Aboagye, the CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion, David Oscar Yawson of the PPP and Anthony Ackah of the CPP.      Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira is been contested by the incumbent MP Catherine Abelema Afeku of the NPP, Kweku Tanikyi Kesse of the NDC, John Kofi Cobbinah of the PNC and Ackah Quarm of the CPP.    For the Jomoro constituency, Francis Anaman of the NDC, Joseph Ewoniah of the NPP, Margaret Blay-Kenya of the PPP and sitting-MP Yaba Samia Nkrumah of the CPP are in contention.      In the Ellembelle Constituency, the sitting-MP Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, who is also the deputy Energy Minister,is representing the NDC  with Kwasi Bonzo  vying for the NPP, Kenneth Attobrah of the PPP, Nana Bulumia Twum Kwasi of the CPP, Joseph Kwaw of the NDP and Ebenezer Somiah-Addae, going as an independent candidate.   In the Sefwi-Wiawso Constituency, the Western Regional Minister and sitting-MP, Paul Evans Aidoo is facing fierce competition from the former Health Minister under Kufuor administration, Dr. Kweku Afriyie, who is vying the seat for the NPP. The Western Region, seen as a swing region, is playing host to all manner of politicians  who are criss-crossing its 26 constituencies to canvass for votes.

GNA