Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, the longest-serving Member of Parliament (MP) in the 4th Republic, is bowing out of parliament.
He has been representing the people of Nadowli-Kaleo in the Upper West Region since January 7, 1993 on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), but as at the close of nomination by the NDC for aspirants for the 2020 general election, Mr. Bagbin was said not to have picked or submitted his candidature.
Mr. Bagbin has not commented on why he did not pick up any nomination forms, and it is also not clear if he intends to contest on a different ticket.
He was one of the aspirants who wanted to lead the NDC as flagbearer but was overwhelmingly defeated by former President John Mahama, who wants to rule Ghana once again.
Apart from Mr. Bagbin, four other NDC MPs in the Volta Region did not also pick nomination forms for the parliamentary primaries slated for August.
They include Richard Quashigah (Keta), Clement Kofi Humado (Anlo), Franklin Fifi Fiavi Kwetey (Ketu South) and Dr. Bernice Adiku Heloo (Hohoe).
James Gunu, Volta regional secretary of the NDC, who confirmed the news to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), 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 added that 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 indicated that the date has been extended to Tuesday for eligible party members who wish to contest the parliamentary primaries in the Hohoe Constituency to pick nomination forms.
Mr. Gunu revealed that the original time table for the conduct of the parliamentary primaries remains unchanged and indicated 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.
