Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Sam Pyne, has said he is ready to rescind his decision to contest for the Suame Parliamentary seat if incumbent Member of Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, chooses to contest again.
According to him, his decision is in respect of the new law made by the National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) barring MMDCEs from contesting incumbent MPs.
The NPP will open nominations for the upcoming Parliamentary Elections to be held on February 24, 2024.
The nominations will open on December 20, 2023, and close on January 4, 2024.
The decision is in line with the party’s election guidelines as enshrined in Article 11 (2) of its constitution.
The party in a new law by the National Council says National Officers (chairmen), Regional Officers (chairmen) and MMDCEs cannot contest in areas where there is already an NPP MP.
“In places where there are sitting MPs, you cannot contest,” the party has said.
However, speaking in an interview with Angel FM in Kumasi, Mr Pyne noted that to respect the party’s decision, he will not contest the Suame Constituency primary should the incumbent MP makes a U-turn and decide to contest.
“The new law states that, if you are an MMDCE you can’t contest and people are not clear with that. It is applicable to where there is a sitting MP. For instance, though I have the intention to contest for the Suame seat, if Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, says he will contest again, I will have to resign. But if he says he is not going to contest then I will go,” he said.