, Mr. Festus Bumagama Agyapong,
The NPP parliamentary candidate for the Sefwi Wiawso constituency, Mr. Festus Bumangamah Agyapong’s candidacy has come under intense scrutiny due to allegations that he was not qualified to contest as a parliamentary aspirant, let alone win the nomination to become the party’s candidate.
Agyapong’s candidacy raises serious questions about adherence to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constitution, specifically Article 11, which governs the selection of parliamentary candidates. The Constitution outlines several key requirements for prospective candidates:
Article 11, Section 2(d) of the NPP Constitution stipulates that a candidate must be a registered member and a voter in the constituency they seek to represent. It has been confirmed that Mr. Agyapong was not a registered voter in the Sefwi Wiawso Constituency prior to his filing of nomination, vetting, and his subsequent election as the parliamentary candidate for Sefwi Wiawso. Instead, Mr. Agyapong, with voter registration number 3342182089, transferred his vote to the Sefwi Wiawso constituency on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, during the ongoing EC transfer process.
Series of questions need to be asked concerning Mr. Agyapong’s vote transfer. Why did he decide to transfer the vote now and not earlier, especially during the assembly election? Is Mr. Agyapong actually a registered voter in Ghana until the recent limited registration? Where and which polling station was he registered until the transfer? Could it be possible that Mr. Agyapong registered in the just ended limited registration outside this constituency for fear of media coverage and skillfully transferred the vote to the constituency? These and many more questions will be asked in the subsequent days, and corresponding answers will be required
Despite these outstanding issues and requirements in the NPP Constitution, Festus Bumangamah Agyapong managed to secure his position as the NPP parliamentary candidate for Sefwi Wiawso. This suggests there was either a deliberate bypass of the rules or a significant oversight in the vetting process to favour Mr. Festus Agyapong. Has he been shielded
Speculations are rife that Mr. Agyapong’s father, Nana Katakyire Kwasi Bumangamah, the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Wiawso, might have influenced the National Executive Committee members, as well as the Regional and Constituency Executives, to waive these requirements, allowing Mr. Agyapong to bypass the constitutional stipulations of the party. Nana Katakyire Kwasi Bumangamah who is supposed to be father for all, instead has summoned all his sub-chiefs and instructed them to campaign for the NPP party and his son. This has added to the controversy and raised questions about potential undue influence and favoritism from the paramountcy..
Could this have significant implications for Buma and erode trust in the NPP and the Buma campaign in the Sefwi Wiawso constituency as NDC is becoming more and more interested in the issues surrounding transfer of his votes.? Time will tell.
Tfrumnews is on the ground, observing and listening keenly.