Bagbin, 4 other NDC MPs to leave Parliament

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the country’s longest-serving MP for Nadowli West constituency, Alban Sumana Bagbin is leaving parliament.

Joy News checks revealed that at the close of nominations, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament did not pick a form to contest the 2020 general elections.

For the first time in 28 years, the opposition NDC will have to field a new candidate to represent the constituency.

Although Mr Bagbin is yet to officially explain his decision, there have been suggestions that an earlier call by a youth group in the Nadowli for him to allow a youthful person represent them could be a factor.

Mr Bagbin announced his intentions to run for president in 2008 on the NDC ticket, but he never stood for the primaries. He later became the Majority Leader in the in 2009 when John Evans Atta Mills was sworn into office.

Following a cabinet reshuffle in January 2010, he was appointed Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing.

Mr Bagbin was made Majority Leader of Parliament under President John Mahama, whom he contested for the flagbearership of the NDC in 2019. He placed third with 2,313 (1.032%).

In the Volta region, some four NDC MPs in the Volta region have also not picked nomination forms to contest the in the parliamentary primaries.

They are MP for Keta, Richard Quashiegah; MP for Anlo, Clement Kofi Humado; MP for Ketu South, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey and MP for Hohoe, Dr Bernice Adiku Heloo.

James Gunu, Volta Regional Secretary of the NDC who confirmed the news to the Ghana News Agency said a total of 15 women out of 74 persons picked nomination forms after the closing of nomination on Friday to contest various parliamentary seats in the region.

He said Charles Agbeve, MP for Agortime-Ziope was going unopposed because he was the only aspirant who picked nomination form to contest after the close of nomination.

Mr Gunu said the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) in consultation with the General Secretary had directed that the selection process for the parliamentary primaries in the Hohoe Constituency be allowed to continue with immediate effect.

He said that followed a meeting between the FEC and Hohoe Constituency executives of the party on Friday.

The Regional Secretary said the date has been extended to Tuesday, for eligible party members who wished to contest the parliamentary primaries in the Hohoe constituency to pick nomination forms.

Mr Gunu said the original time table for the conduct of the parliamentary primaries remained unchanged and stated the determination of the leadership of the Party in the region to create a level playing field for all aspirants for free, fair, credible and transparent primaries.