Tension mounts in Shai-Osudoku over venue for NDC primaries

The Shai-Osudoku Constituency of Ghana is currently facing a dilemma as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) prepares for its presidential and parliamentary primaries. The executive members of the constituency are divided over where the polls should be held, three days to the event. The constituency is widely spread with communities several kilometers apart, and there are three proposed centers for the primaries: Asutuare Junction, Ghanata Senior High School, and Word of Faith Junior High School in Dodowa.

The Shai-Osudoku Constituency is commonly known as the “twin constituency,” and as a result of the long distances some delegates would have to travel to vote, some executive members proposed Asutuare Junction, citing unpredictable weather conditions. However, some executive members are insisting that the Word of Faith Junior High School host the primaries.

The issue has caused tension among the members, and there seems to be no consensus. In a meeting held on Wednesday, May 10, the executives, including two aspirants, Madam Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, the incumbent MP; Prof Dr. Micheal Kpessa-Whyte; and a representative of Mr. David Tetteh Assumeng, another aspirant and former MP, met with the Dodowa Police Command to discuss the issue.

According to sources, the meeting was inconclusive as the majority of the members were not in favor of the primaries taking place at the Word of Faith Junior High School. The members are now appealing to the Regional Office to intervene and provide a directive as the time is running out.

For the most part, the disagreement revolves around the logistics and convenience of holding the primaries at the different proposed venues. The Word of Faith Junior High School has been used in the past, but some delegates have complained about limited space for positioning of election materials, delegates, and cars. On the other hand, Asutuare Junction has been proposed due to its proximity to some communities and to avoid the risks of traveling long distances in unpredictable weather conditions.

In a nutshell, the NDC primaries in the Shai-Osudoku Constituency are facing some challenges, and the executive members are yet to agree on the best venue for the event. The issue has caused tension among the members, and there seems to be no consensus. As the event draws closer, the members are appealing for intervention from the Regional Office to provide a directive and prevent any form of disenfranchisement of delegates.