Peacefmonline.com can confirm that voting at some of the 277 polling centres across the country where the much-talked about election of a flagbearer for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is taking place has ended.
A few minutes after midday, Savelugu (Northern Region), Mion (Northern Region), Nandom in Upper West Region were all done with their voting.
A total of 208, 342 delegates are expected to cast their ballot across various constituencies in the country in the exercise programmed to end at 3:00pm.
The contestants are; Member of Parliament for Assin Central Constituency, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former MP for Mampong Francis Addai-Nimoh.
Missing Names
Per the accounts of Despite Media Group reporters, a few constituencies are, however, experiencing missing names of delegates in the register or album.
At Twifo Atti-Morkwa, voting was suspended after some 31 delegates had cause to express concern when their names were surprisingly not found in the album.
Another area that experienced a similar situation was Builsa North, where some 6 delegates had their names missing.
Monetary Showdown
Monetary inducement in Ghana’s body politics has become a cause for worry.
Our roving reporters at the 277 centres, uncovered what seems to be widespread financial inducement offered to delegates but passed off as their transportation and feeding costs.
The camps of the two leading contenders, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who is vying to lead the party to the 2024 general election and the Assin Central Member of Parliament, Ken Agyapong, stand mainly accused.
Whiles candidate Ken Ohene Agyapong's camp reportedly doled out some GHc300 each to delegates, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia's camp handed out GHc400 to each delegate in the ongoing exercise.
Some of the delegates received these "donations" either prior to or after casting their ballot. In some instances though, Despite Media Group reporters recounted how some delegates were nearly short-changed by some Ghc100.
The delegates eligible to elect the presidential candidate include Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Patrons and Council of Elders, National Council, Overseas Branches, MPs, Constituency Patrons, Constituency Officers, Electoral Area Coordinators, and Polling Station Executives.
No Agents
Another interesting observation by the Despite Media Team of reporters was the absence of representatives of Candidate Addai-Nimoh and Dr Afriyie Akoto acting as agents, in some constituencies (voting centres in North East Region to be precise) and in Abura Asebu Kwamankese.
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