The vetting committee of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has cleared six out of eight aspirants who picked and filed nomination forms to contest the party's parliamentary primaries in the Kumawu Constituency of the Ashanti region.

The Chairman of the vetting committee, Mr Danquah Smith Buttey, told the media after the vetting of aspirants on Sunday that the vetting of two other aspirants has been put on hold for further investigations into their documents.

Mr Buttey who doubles as the National Vice Chairman of the party declined to disclose the identity of those cleared to contest and those whose vetting had been put on hold but indicated that balloting was done for the six after the vetting.

The aspirants who picked and filed nomination forms and appeared before the committee are Yaw Baah, former MP of the area; Mr Kwame Appiah-Kubi, former first Vice Chairman of the NPP in the Kumawu Constituency; and Dr Aboagye Dacosta of the Ghana Health Service.

Others are Dr Philip Bannor of the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency, Mr Edward Kofi Osei, Nana Ama Serwaa, Ernest Yaw Anim, and Mr Osei Hweree Kwame Bempah.

The party is preparing to present a candidate for the by-election set to be held in the constituency after the Member of Parliament (MP) on the ticket of the party, Hon Philip Bosoah died.

Mr Buttey speaking to Class 91.3 FM said the process has been smooth. 

He said the party is poised to retain the seat to ensure the development of the area.

On his part, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Mr Antwi Boasiako, popularly called "Wontumi" was hopeful that the party will retain the seat given the development done in the constituency.