NDC subdues NPP in Central Region, sweeping 18 of 23 seats

The 2024 elections in the Central Region saw significant upsets in the camp of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) swept 18 out of the 23 parliamentary seats the region holds.

This marks a notable victory for the NDC, signifying a substantial shift in voter sentiments and allegiance, particularly in stronghold NPP constituencies.

Known for its “swing” accolade, the regional capital, Cape Coast, has a strict stance against bad governance.

This explains why it is sometimes referred to as “a town of beautiful nonsense” as it does not condone laziness, voting any party out for non performance.

In the presidential race, the NDC garnered an impressive 562,620 votes surpassing the NPP’s 382,749.

The New Patriotic Party’s popularity in the region began to wane as portrayed in the 2020 parliamentary election, when the NDC, which had four seats in 2016, managed to increase the number to 13, while the NPP’s seats decreased from 19 to 10.

The elephant family’s woes did not end there. It also lost some strongholds in the just ended polls, notably the Awutu-Senya-East, which had been under its control since 2012. 

Mrs Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor of the Umbrella family defeated the incumbent Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson (NPP), securing 50,886 votes, representing 52.7 per cent.

Mrs Koomson, the Minister of Fisheries and Acquaculture Development, had 45,638 votes, accounting for 47.3 per cent.

Madam Gizella Tetteh Agbotui of the NDC claimed victory in Awutu-Senya-West, breaking the one-term trend of parliamentary membership on the seat, by securing 33,995 votes. 

She decisively outperformed Mr Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communications for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who garnered 26,937 votes.

The victory signifies her second consecutive term as the MP for the area, following in the footsteps of her sister, Madam Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, who emerged victorious in 2012 but lost to Nenyi Andam in 2016.

The Gomoa West seat was won by Mr Richard Gyan-Mensah of the NDC with 30,884 votes, defeating the NPP candidate, Mr Bismark Baisie-Nkum, who received 19,221 votes.

The Gomoa West, for time immemorial, has been a competitive constituency, with recent elections showing a mix of support for the major parties.

In Gomoa East, Mr Paitoo Desmond De-Graft of the NDC secured 33,806 votes to claim the seat, defeating a former NPP MP, Mr Kojo Asemanyi, who garnered 25,421 votes.

Mr Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as ‘A Plus,’ a musician and entrepreneur, emerged victorious in Gomoa Central with 14,277 votes, as an independent candidate, flooring the incumbent NPP MP, Mrs Naana Eyiah Quansah, who received 11,637, while other candidates collectively obtained 10,112 votes. 

‘A Plus’ became the first independent candidate to win this traditionally NPP stronghold constituency.

Dr Ekow Othniel Kwainoe of the NDC emerged triumphant in the Ekumfi constituency with 18,413 votes, representing 62.57 per c of the total votes cast.

His opponent, Ms Nana Adu Okumkom Donkoh of the NPP, garnered 11,014 votes, accounting for 37.43 per cent of the valid votes. 

In Mfantseman, the NPP’s incumbent MP, Mrs Ophelia Mensah, lost her seat to Dr Prince Ebenezer Arhin of the NDC, who obtained 36,989 votes, while she had 24,099. 

The total valid votes cast was 61,824, showing a significant rise in support for the NDC compared to previous elections.

In Cape Coast North, the incumbent NDC MP, Dr Kwamina Minta Nyarku, secured victory for the second consecutive term. 

Lawrence Agyinsam won the Hemang-Lower-Denkyira seat for the NPP, polling 17,228 votes to defeat his main opponent, Mr Seth Agyapong-Mensah, NDC, who got 9,527, with the Independent Candidate, Rev Benjamin Frimpong Donkoh, garnering 377 votes.

Samuel Atta Mills of the NDC retained his seat in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem constituency, with an emphatic 30,220 votes, unsettling Dennis Percy Quaicoe of the NPP, who got 17,675 votes. 

This election marked a significant shift as the NDC consolidated its power by unseating many NPP candidates.

The Upper Denkyira East was won by Ms Emelia Ankomah (NDC), who obtained 24,426 votes, defeating the incumbent, Dr AwuahKwofie of the NPP, who had 18,895. 

In the Upper Denkyira West constituency, Rudolf Amoako Gyampah of the NPP emerged victorious with 16,947 votes, while Daniel Ohene Darkoh, NDC, bagged 13,858 votes.

Mr James Gyakye Quayson (NDC) won the Assin North seat, securing 18,023 votes (56.35 per cent), marking his third consecutive term as MP and reaffirming his position despite previous legal challenges regarding his dual citizenship. 

His main opponent, Mr Charles Opoku (NPP), polled 13,599 votes (42.52 per cent.).

In Assin South, the NPP narrowly escaped defeat as Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the incumbent, secured a third-time victory with 14,899 votes. 

He defeated his contenders, Mr Kofi Baidoo (NDC), who obtained 23,354 votes and Mr Joseph Kofi Damtse, an independent candidate aiming to promote sports development in the constituency, who received 10,332 votes.

Similarly, in Assin Central, where Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong had reigned since 1996, the NDC’s Nurein Shiabu Migyimah won that seat for the first time with 16,343 votes, representing 50.6 percent, defeating NPP’s Godfred Anewu who had 15,926 votes, accounting for 49.4 percent.

In the Twifo Atti-Morkwa Constituency, the incumbent MP, David Theophilus Dominic Vondee, secured the seat with 19,706 votes against his opponent, Dwamena Obeng Ebenezer of the NPP, who got 15,352 votes.

Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson of the NDC retained the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam seat with 40,478 votes against Dr Rashid Kwesi Entuaful’s 18,251 votes.

Madam Sawyer Queenstar Pokuah of the NDC emerged victorious in Agona East, securing 22,225 votes, representing 55.82 percent. 

Her opponent, Hannah Asamoah, NPP, received 17,256 votes, accounting for 43.34 percent.

The Agona West seat was won by Mrs Ernestina Ofori Dangbey, NDC, who received 26,080 votes.

The NPP candidate, Arthur Christopher, was second with 20,693 votes, while the incumbent MP, Mrs Cynthia Mamle Morrison, who stood as an independent candidate, garnered 7,160.

In totality, the NPP managed only four seats out of 23: Effutu, won by Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Assin South, Rev. Ntim Fordjour, Hemang-Lower-Denkyira, Mr Lawrence Agyinsam, and Upper Denkyira West, Rudolf Amoako Gyampah.

The NDC had 18, with the remaining seat being taken by ‘A Plus,’ the independent candidate.

Sampling reactions of voters on what influenced their decision, many cited arrogance, disrespect, un-empathetic behaviour of NPP MPs, and insensitivity of the government towards the people’s plight as some of their reasons.

The NDC on the other hand, targeted traditional strongholds and maximizing votes there through intensified house-to-house campaigns.

It utilised grassroots mobilisation of local leaders, playing a crucial role in engaging voters and ensuring high turnout. 

Leveraging the current economic situation, the NDC attracted urban and youth voters, positioning itself as a viable alternative to ameliorate the suffering of the people and reset Ghana for a better future.

By Alice Tettey & Isaac Arkoh

Source: GNA

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