Race to Parliament House, 2017. Western Region contenders

The two giant political parties in the country, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have fielded the full complement of their candidates in all the 26 constituencies in the Western Region to battle it out in the upcoming Wednesday, December 7, 2016 national elections.

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has managed to field candidates in 17 out of the 26 constituencies. In fact, it has been difficult for this reporter to lay hands on the list of candidates for the other registered political parties in the region, such as the People’s National Convention (PNC), Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).

The Western Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Michael Opoku, was also not definite about the official locations of these parties when he was contacted on the issue.

So what is preventing the EC from strictly applying the electoral laws regarding the establishment of offices by all the registered political parties in all the regional and district capitals in the country and ensuring that they function effectively?

In the list at my disposal from the PPP national communication outfit, Simon Peter Adabo is standing as the candidate for the Amenfi East Constituency, where he will be flexing his might with the incumbent NDC Member of Parliament (MP), Kwasi Oppong-Fosu and the NPP’s Patrick Saime.

Parliamentary polls

In the 2012 parliamentary polls, Oppong-Fosu secured 26,134 votes (50.84%) to be elected as MP for the area, beating the NPP’s Joseph Boahen Aidoo, who got 24,457 (47.58%), while Alfred Jeremiah Owusu, PPP; Godfrey Appiah-Kubi, PNC and Francis Obeng, NDP, managed 401 (0.78%), 122 (0.24%) and 292 (0.57%), respectively.

For Amenfi West, the PPP is fielding Abraham Kojo Buadee to match NDC’s sitting MP, John Gyetuah, who in the last election polled 26,435 (60.32%) to defeat Paul Dekyi of the NPP—16, 829 (38.40%); Francis Asare-PPP, 320 (0.73%); Ransford Kofi Peterson-PNC- 77 (0.18%) and Raymond Jones- CPP, 160 (0.37%). The NDC is currently fielding Eric Afful for Amenfi West.

In the coming contest, the PPP is putting up Mr Owusu for the Bia East Constituency to contest with Richard Acheampong, the current NDC MP, who in 2012 gained 13,497 votes (65.95%) to beat David Leo-Nkoah of the NPP, who had 4,935 (24.12%); Emmanuel Kwadwo Owusu- PPP, 134 (0.65%); Nkrumah Joseph- NDP, 154 (0.75%) and Felix Nanor Tetteh- Independent, 1,744 (8.52%). The NPP now has Anthony Nimoh to contest the December poll.

For Bia West, Mustapha Amadu Tanko represents the PPP on December 7 this year to take on Michael Coffie Boampong, the incumbent NDC MP who obtained 30,632 (66.56%) to whip the NPP candidate, John Koah- 14,257 (30.98%) in the previous ballot, with Kofi Gershon of the PPP getting 530 (1.15%) while the CPP candidate, Armah Philemon of the CPP secured 601 (1.31%).

Mr Samuel Giddi is representing the PPP in the Wassa East area for the upcoming election, meeting the NDC sitting MP, who is also the Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport, Isaac K. Adjei-Mensah. In the 2012 election, the incumbent beat his current NPP contestant, Wilson Arthur by 19,242 (57.17%) votes to 13,996 (41.58%) and the previous PPP representative, Twumasi-Ankrah Moses- 419 (1.24%).

For the upcoming ballot, the PPP is raising Benjamin Kweku Botwe in the Effia Constituency, where the incumbent MP, Joseph Cudjoe, is from the NPP camp and is now desirous to maintain the seat. Mr Cudjoe obtained 19,863 (55.75%) votes to ditch Mohammed Barkwa Ali of the NDC- 14,269 (40.05%); Theresa Baffowa Lartey of the PPP-1, 208 (3.39%) and Alexander Prince Egyir- Yawson of the CPP-287 (0.81%).

 The NDC is now putting up Michael Otoo, who is moving heaven and earth to oust the stalwart Cudjoe in Effia.

In the Ellembelle enclave, the PPP has Kenneth Atobrah to face the NDC’s Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the incumbent and Minister of Petroleum, who has vowed never to be kicked out but rather increase the previous margin of 26,344 (58.28%), by 16,000 votes.

 He beat his opponents Kwasi Bonzoh of the NPP, who in the last election polled 18,067 (39.97%), Atobrah, 309 (0.68%); Nana Bulumia Twum Kwasi-CPP, 278 (0.61%); Joseph Justice Kwaw-NDP, 30 (0.07%) and Ebenezer Somea-Adade, Independent, 176 (0.39%). The NPP’s Bonzoh hopes to give Armah-Buah a good run for his money.

The PPP is represented in the Aowin Constituency by Isaac Wilson Kwaw, where the seat belongs to Mathias Kwame Ntow of the NDC and is still contesting with Samuel Adu Gyamfi of the NPP, who was edged out in 2012 by the incumbent with 30, 035 (56.67%) of the votes, while Gyamfi secured 21,030 (39.68%).

The previous PPP candidate, Abudu Hawa, obtained 700 (1.32%); John Brew of the NDP had 269 (0.51%); Theophilus Nana Boahene and Solomon Appiah, both Independent candidates secured 207 (0.39%) and 756 (1.43%) respectively. Can Mathias maintain the seat? Time will tell.

For the Jomoro Constituency, Matthew Bentho is the candidate to vie with the NDC incumbent, Wg. Cdr. Francis Kabenlah Anaman, who secured 21,651 (42.22%) in the previous 2012 election, beating NPP’s Joseph Ewoniah-9,630 (18.78%); Margaret Blay Kenya-PPP, 1,894 (3.69%) and CPP’s Samia Yaba Christina Nkrumah, 18,110 (35.31%).

The NPP is presenting a new face, Paul Essien, this time around. Can there be a surprise from any quarters in 2016? Samia has put herself up again for the constituency.

The PPP candidate for the Prestea Huni –Valley Constituency is Edmund Duku, matching the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, Mr Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, who defeated Francis Adu-Blay Koffie, the current MP for the area in the NDC primaries.

The incumbent MP, Adu-Blay, obtained 39,808 (54.95%) to beat the NPP’s Anastasia Wiredu Mensah-31,209 (43.08%); Eric Mensah-PPP, 1, 035 (1.43%); Theophilus Badu Samora Barima-CPP, 297 (0.41%) and Robert Odoom-NDP, 92 (0.13%).

 For the upcoming election, the NPP is being represented by Lawyer Barbara Oteng-Gyasi. The question is whether she is capable of snatching the seat from the NDC.

Mr Joseph Benedict Aubyn is standing on the ticket of the PPP, come December 2016, with zeal to take away the seat from the incumbent NPP MP, Alex Kofi Agyekum, just as the NDC candidate, Eric Kwaku Kyeremeh, is leaving no stone unturned to snatch the ballot.

In 2012, Mr Agyekum gathered 7,114 (40.43%) to pick the seat, followed closely by Anthony Bassaw of the NDC-6,333 (35.99%) while Mary Ankomah of the PPP collected 4,151 (23.59%) of the votes.

The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency is also being contested by the PPP’s Eric Seedof Asiedu Simpey, where he meets entertainer Seth Kwame Dzokoto in the race. Both of them and others in the fight are moving heaven and earth to annex the seat which has been in the safe hands of the NPP in past polls.

The incumbent MP, Gifty Eugenia Kusi, who has handed over the baton to George Mercer Duker, defeated Christina Kobinah of the NDC, the current Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, in the last election by 37,816 (51.86%) to 33, 135 (45.44%) while Mr Simpey of the PPP received 1,972 (2.70%). Will Kwame Dzokoto spring a surprise on December 2016? 

The Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Constituency seat is being contested by the PPP’s Benedicta Boamah, which is in the hands of Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu of the NPP, who beat the NDC’s Bright Asamoah Brefo by 32,016 (50.27%) to 29,940 (47.01%).

The other candidates then were Eric Nkrumah-PPP, 731 (1.15%); Evans Ennin Dickson-PNC, 188 (0.30%); Anthony Kwame Gyasi-CPP, 174 (0.07%); Prince Osei Tutu-NDP- 171 (0.27%) and Newlove Gyasi-Independent, 466 (0.73%).

Mr Moses Kofi Armah is the NDC candidate for the area in the 2016 election and hopes to unseat Hon Aboagye. Will he  lose the seat? The electorate will decide.

For the Shama Constituency, the PPP has Joseph Paapa Essuman contesting NDC’s Gabriel Kwadwo Essilfie, the incumbent MP, who defeated Joseph Cantamanto Garbrah of the NPP by 18,406 (48.65%) to 17,154 (45.34%) while Essuman obtained 2,271 (6.00%). The NPP is presenting Ato Panford in December 2016.

In the Essikado-Ketan Constituency, Kwadwo Addison Maison is standing for the PPP and is ready to fight it off with the NPP sitting MP and former Attorney General in the Kufuor Administration, Mr Joe Ghartey, and NDC’s Joseph Kofi Mensah.

In the 2012 election, Mr Ghartey defeated the NDC’s representative, Thomas C. Brown by 24,442 (58.15%) to 16,767 (39.89%), while the then Joseph Cornelius Essandoh of the PPP secured 762 (1.181%), with Ebo Graham of the PNC taking 64 (0.15%) of the votes. Mr Brown is not contesting the seat this time around in December 2016.

Kwesimintsim/Takoradi/Sekondi

For the Kwesimintsim Constituency, the PPP candidate is Samuel Kwabena Antwi, who will battle it out with the NDC aspirant, Augustine Arthur, and the NPP’s Joe Mensah, who recently dethroned the incumbent, Joe Baidoo-Ansah, in the party’s primaries.

The latter has been sitting on the throne for the past three parliamentary seasons and in  2012 he got 16,179 (48.16%) to beat the NDC challenger, Francis K.N.T. Apuri, who secured 9,901 (29.47%), while Maxwell Okyere Ahenkorah-PPP, got 1, 138 (3.39%) and Nana Abakah—Independent, 6, 378 (18.98%).

All eyes are set on Joe Mensah to either maintain the standard set by Baidoo-Ansah or be taught a political lesson by his competitors.

Mr Isaac Collins Mensah is the representative of the PPP in the Takoradi Constituency, where the battle is undoubtedly between the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Alfred Ekow Gyan, popularly known as Abbot (aka Ohyeyie) and the incumbent NPP candidate, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.

In 2012, Darko-Mensah whipped the NDC candidate when he obtained 25,958 (61.05%) as against 15, =889 (37.37%) by Gyan, while the then PPP representative, Vivian Arthur, secured 669 (1.57%).

In fact, if the mounting of bill boards were the panacea to winning elections, then the NPP sitting MP and other prospective contestants should count themselves out of the race in the coming ballot as the ‘scent’ of Gyan in respect of political sign posts is all over the constituency; his eyes are red for the Takoradi seat.

Sekondi is the twin-city of Takoradi, the capital of the metropolitan assembly, and the constituency is currently being occupied by Papa Owusu Ankomah, a former deputy Attorney-General in the Kufuor era, who in the last poll had it a bit tough to beat the NDC candidate, Anthony Richard Cudjoe, with 13,735, representing 51.19% to 13,644 (47.40%).

The CPP candidate, Ahoah Henry Solor, and an independent candidate, Armah Nyamekye obtained 408 (1.42%) and 0 (0.00%) respectively.

Papa Owusu Ankamah is not going again, leaving the race to Andrew Mercer to battle it out with the NDC’s Emmanuel Assifuah and others. The end will certainly justify the means.

Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira/Ahanta West

Moving to the Axim area, the NDC’s Kweku Tanikyi Kessie holds the seat and is now being challenged by a former MP for the constituency on the ticket of the NPP, Catherine Abelema Afeku.

In the 2012 election, the incumbent defeated Afeku when he obtained 15,359, representing 52.95%, as against her 13,157 (45.36%), while John Kofi Cobbinah of the PNC got 107 (0.37%), with Ackah Quarm of the CPP securing 381 (1.31%) of the votes.

For the Ahanta West Constituency, it is a straight fight between the incumbent NDC MP, George Kwame Aboagye, and Lawyer Ebenezer Kojo Kum of the NPP. Hon Aboagye slightly edged out the then NPP contestant, Samuel Johnfiah, with 21,143 (45.74%) of the votes, with 20, 099 (43.49%) for Johnfiah.

The PPP candidate, David Oscar Yawson, secured 4,658 (10.08%), while Anthony Ackah of the CPP obtained 320 (0.69%) of the votes. 

Can Lawyer Kum spring a surprise to overrun the incumbent MP? Are the other prospective party representatives also prepared to put up a good fight to annex the seat?

Amenfi Central/Suaman

The Amenfi Central Constituency seat is under the care of the NDC’s George Kofi Arthur, who in 2012 got 21,149, representing 54.83%, to defeat Eric Magnus Wilmont of the NPP, who obtained 16,871 (43.74%) while the PPP Benjamin Asmah had 555 (1.44%) of the votes.

Mr Arthur is still in the race for the 2016 poll while the NPP is being represented by Patrick Amponteng. Is he, and other contestants, capable of stepping aside the incumbent to represent the electorate in the area?

In the Suaman Constituency in 2012, the NDC candidate, Stephen Michael Essuah Kofi Ackah, obtained 62.98 per cent when he got 9,588 of the votes as against 35.89 per cent, 5,464 of the votes secured by the NPP man, Philip Kwabena Boahen, while the then PPP representative got 1.13 per cent, 172 of the votes.

In the upcoming election, the incumbent Ackah is facing the NPP’s Christian Baah and other prospective party candidates. Who stands to carry the day?

Sefwi Wiawso/Sefwi Akontombra

The Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo, the sitting representative of the people, and a former MP for the Sefwi Wiawso Constituency, who was also the Minister of Health in the NPP administration, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, are the two main contenders in the December poll, together with other battle-ready party candidates.

In the last ballot, the NDC candidate garnered 31,993, which represented 53.79 per cent of the votes, to beat Dr Afriyie, who got 26,926 of the ballots, representing 45.27 per cent, while Kwabena Musah of the PPP obtained 350 (0.59%). Amoah Newton Adu of the PNC got 136 (0.23%) and Matthew Benyin of the NDP got 77 (0.13%) of the votes.

For the Sefwi Akontombra Constituency, the NDC candidate, Kenneth Yeboah, will contest with another new face for the NPP, Alex Tetteh, and others. In the 2012 ballot, the then Herod Cobbina, NDC, obtained 18,926 (58.98%) to beat Appiah-Kubi Baidoo-NPP, 12,568 (39.17%) while Adams Kwasi Kwarteng-PPP got 424 (1.32%) and Joseph Bright Quaha-CPP, obtained 171 (0.53%).

Bodi/Juaboso

The Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Ahi Sampson, is the incumbent MP for Bodi, and he is being challenged by the NPP’s candidate, Ignatius Amankwa, and others in the coming December election. Ahi in 2012 polled 18,586, which represented 69.71 per cent of the votes.

His NPP contender then, Emmanuel Addai, managed 7,626, representing 28.60 per cent, while Yeboah Evans of the PPP obtained 281, making up for 1.05 per cent, with Mahama Baba Ishmael of the PNC securing 168, representing 0.63 per cent.

For the Juaboso Constituency, another Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has the seat under his sleeves and will battle it out with the NPP candidate, Martha Kwayie Manu, who has a herculean task to meander her way to the next Parliament, given the strength of the incumbent.

In the last poll, Akandoh obtained 19,432, representing 49 per cent of the votes, while Madam Manu secured 8,293 (21.28%), while Abdul-Karim Braimah Ibrahim of the PNC got 255, which represented 0.65 per cent, with Khadijah Ama Nkrumah of the CPP obtaining 208 (0.53%) and William Coffie, an independent man picking 10, 783, representing 27.67 per cent of the votes.

December 7, 2016 is fast approaching and Ghanaians are waiting patiently for the D-day to exercise their franchise in favour of their preferred choices. What is needed now is absolute peace, harmony and tranquility to prevail in the country before, during and after the polls.