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Forty-eight members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 22 out of 26 constituencies in the Western Region have picked forms to contest the upcoming parliamentary primaries of the party with Prestea recording the highest number of eight contestants.

Conspicuously missing from the list made available to the Daily Graphic in Takoradi was the name of Papa Owusu Ankoma, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Sekondi.

At the time of filing this report, no member from four constituencies, Bia East, Bia West, Suaman and Juaboso had gone in for a form.

The list, signed by Mr Charles Nanabayin Onuawonto Bissue, the Western Regional Secretary of the NPP, started with Wassa East, which has Wilson Arthur; Shama, Ato Panford and Ericson Abekah Samuel; Sekondi, Andrew Agyapa Mercer, Abu Seidu, Samson Nimako Darko and Kingsful K. Acquah; Essikado Ketan, Joe Ghartey the incumbent, the only candidate.

For Effia, the sitting MP, Joseph Cudjoe's name came up as the only candidate, while one Joe Mensah is battling it out with Joe Baidoe-Ansah in Kwesiminstim with Alexander Agyekum, the incumbent MP, standing alone in the Mpohor Constituency. 

In the Takoradi area, the sitting MP, Kojo O. Darko Mensah had filed, while in the Ahanta West, four are vying in the persons of Kojo Kum, Kwesi Klutse, Kwesi Biney, the former District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area in the Kufuor administration, and Kwesi Yankey; Tarkwa-Nsuaem, the incumbent Gifty Eugenia-Kusi and George Mireku-Duker have picked forms.

There are eight contestants for the Prestea Constituency and they are Samuel Kwesi Arthur, Felix Kwame Quainoo, Barbara Oteng Gyasi, a Lawyer, Isaac Dramani, Bimpeh Yantsin Isaac, Samuel Blay, Lawrence Ellimah Blay and Samuel William Derby.

Five people are also flexing their muscles in Amenfi East, namely Michael Nketiah, Richard Boakye-Yiadom, Edward Amo-Ackwah, Edmund Afful and Stephen Baidoo, while for the Amenfi Central, one Dr Eric Magnus Wilmont and Patrick Ampoteng are challenging each other with only Samuel Adu Gyamfi in Aowin constituency and Kennedy Amoah-Mensah for Bodi.

A former Minister of Health in the Kufuor era, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, is contesting with Martin Bonye in the Sefwi Wiawso Constituency, while Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu and Kingsley Adjei Manu are contesting for Bibiani.

In Jomoro, Paul Essien, Joseph Ehowia and Hopeson Paul Kwaw are challenging one another with Kwasi Bonzoh as the aspirant for Ellembelle. While for Evalue Gwira, Catherine Ablema Afeku and Prof. Kwaku Sagary Nokoe are in the race, Alex Tetteh and Fred Coffie seriously looking for the position in the Akontombra Constituency. 

National directive
Meanwhile, a letter signed by the regional secretary and addressed to the various constituencies, has re-emphasised the need for members of the party to adhere to the guidelines for the forthcoming parliamentary primaries.