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It is emerging that some sitting Members of Parliament allegedly paid bribes to a Lawyer Obiri Boahene led vetting committee in the Eastern Region, to enable them go uncontested in the upcoming parliamentary primaries of the Governing New Patriotic Party.

It is further alledged that as much as twenty five thousand Ghana cedis each were paid by the MP for Atiwa East Lawyer Abena Asare, MP for Atiwa West, who is also a brother to the sitting President, Hon Kwasi Amoako Atta, MP for Abirem, Hon Osei Frempong and MP for Fanteakwa North, Hon Amankwa Asiamah to the Regional vetting committee to fail their contenders on frivolous excuse.

Speaking to Graphicgh.com, an obviously angry member of the committee warned that these actions have the tendencies to create apathy and harm the electoral fortunes of the party. “How can you fail an aspirant on the basis that he has written “Awaiting results” against his certificate on his CV when he had explained that he had finished the programme and waiting for the results?”, the source quizzed. It is reported that all four aspirants who are contesting the deputy minister for finance and MP for Atiwa West have been disqualified because some unknown supporters have rained curses on anybody who plans to let the sitting MP go unopposed. The Vetting committee thinks these supporters acted to benefit the aspirants hence should be punished for their actions. Others like Lawyer Philip Addison were also disqualified for showing interest to contest or campaigning before nominations were opened.

Meanwhile, other sitting MPs like the Regional Minister and MP for Nkawkaw, Hon Eric Kwakye Darfour, MP for New Juaben South, Hon Mark Asibey-Yeboah, MP for Mpraeso, Hon Seth Acheampong, MP for Nsawam, Hon Frank Annor Dompreh, MP for Suhum, Hon Frederick Opare Ansah and MP for Fanteakwa South, Hon Kofi Okyere-Agyekum, who are not in the good books of the Regional executives or fell out with the President Nana Akuffo Addo, have been left to face fierce challenges from resourceful appointees or Government sponsored candidates.

Deep sources explain that most of the aspirants are not happy because after charging them huge filling fees and with all the expenses they have made, the regional executives charged all passing aspirants 1000 Ghana cedis each for lunch.

More to Come.

By: Kwame Owusu