The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is going to the polls today, Saturday, January 27, 2024, for its parliamentary elections in areas where it has sitting MPs.
Ahead of the polls, various research findings have anticipated a keen contest in certain constituencies with newcomers seeking to unseat incumbents.
Your authoritative newsalertgh.com highlights below some constituencies that will likely be focal points of electoral activity:
- Dome Kwabenya: Three-term MP Adwoa Safo Faces Formidable Challenge
The incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, is facing a tough challenge for her seat. Despite her extended absence in 2023, attributed to family issues, the three-term MP faces competition from two notable contenders – Sheela Oppong Sakyi, a legal practitioner and strategist at the Office of the First Lady, and Mike Oquaye Jnr, CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Authority. Oquaye Jnr, defeated by Adwoa Safo in the 2020 primaries, aspires to follow in the footsteps of his father, Prof Mike Oquaye, a former speaker of Parliament.
- Tano North: Another three-term MP Freda Prempeh Challenged by Bawumia’s SpokespersonDr. Freda Prempeh, the incumbent MP for Tano North and Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources is facing a tough challenge from Dr. Gideon Boako, the spokesperson of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Analysts believe the three-term MP might kiss goodbye to her parliamentary ambitions considering the largesse being thrown at delegates by Dr Boako.
- Bantama: Another one-term MP in the offing?Since the days of former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Bantama has always produced one-term MPs. Will that be the case as Ralph Agyapong, the brother of Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, makes a spirited attempt for the Ashanti regional World Bank seat of the NPP? The fortunes of the current MP, Francis Asenso-Boakye, have been further dampened following a verbal feud with the Assin Central lawmaker, who is said to be actively campaigning and discouraging delegates from voting for Asenso-Boakye.
- Nsawam Adoagyiri: Three-term MP Annoh-Dompreh Faces Challenge from Hayford SiawMajority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, is set to face a challenge from Kofi Hayford Siaw, the CEO of the Ghana Library Authority, for his seat. Ahead of the polls, the three-term MP, Annoh-Dompreh has lamented how a Minister in the current government is campaigning to have him lose his seat.
- Adansi Asokwa: Sammy Binfo Darkwa Targets Five-Term MP Kobina Tahir Hammond’s SeatSammy Binfo Darkwa, a former NUGS President and Chief Accountant at the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, seeks to unseat five-term MP Kobina Tahir Hammond in the Adansi Asokwa Constituency. The war of words between the two camps is threatening to undermine the peace of the party ahead of the December polls.
- Akim Swedru: Incumbent three-term MP Faces Challenge from Controller and Accountant GeneralThe Akim Swedru Constituency in the Eastern Region anticipates a fiercely contested parliamentary primary for the first time in twelve years. Incumbent MP Kennedy Osei Nyarko faces competition from businessman Jerome Kwame Akordor and Controller and Accountant-General Kwasi Kwanning-Bosompem.
- Bekwai: Embattled COP Alex George Mensah Ventures into Politics
The intention of First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu not to seek reelection has made the Bekwai constituency, one of the places to watch. Embattled COP Alex George Mensah, previously involved in a scandal related to the removal of the IGP, is facing off against three contenders – Ralph Poku-Adusei, Henry Opoku-Ware, and Kingsley Opoku Agyemang.
