Battle for Dome-Kwabenya intensifies

That the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency has been a bastion of support for the NPP since 2012 is an understatement.

However, the largest constituency in the country currently will still be the focus of attention in the 2024 general election due to its unique dynamics.

Come December 7, a fresh candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Michael Aaron Yaw Nii Nortey Oquaye Jnr, will seek to keep to tradition by winning the seat in a similar fashion as his father, Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye, who served two terms from 2005 to 2012.

Incidentally, Mike Oquaye Jnr had followed the diplomatic footsteps of the old professor and one-time Speaker of Parliament as Ghana’s High Commissioner to India in 2021, before settling in his current role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority.

And considering the impressive manner in which he dethroned the ‘darling girl’ of Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, in the NPP primaries, political watchers believe Ambassador Oquaye Jnr has the clout to introduce a new dimension to the presidential election in particular.

For starters, the statistics for the presidential election in the constituency reveal an interesting trend of appreciating votes for both the NPP and the NDC, especially in the last two elections, posing a huge challenge for the parliamentary candidates of the two major political parties not to lower the standard.

In 2020, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP won by 78,467 votes, representing 60.58 per cent, as against John Mahama of the NDC’s 50,136 (38.71 per cent).

Meanwhile, Nana Akufo-Addo recorded 62,793 votes (67.13 per cent) as opposed to John Mahama NDC’s 30,099 (32.18 per cent) in 2016. Similarly, the 2012 polls saw Nana Akufo-Addo poll 61,534 votes (61.93 per cent) as compared to John Mahama’s 37,278 (37.52 per cent).

Parliamentary results

Data from the Electoral Commission showed that Prof. Oquaye secured victory for the NPP in 2004 with 65.5 per cent of the total votes, defeating the NDC candidate who had 32.3 per cent.

Faustina Elikplim Akurugu — NDC Parliamentary Candidate

In his second term, Prof. Oquaye’s votes, however, dropped to 57.7 per cent in 2008, but he still made it to the Fifth Parliament, leaving the NDC’s candidate behind with 39.5 per cent.

Mike Oquaye Jnr — NPP Parliamentary Candidate

For her part, Ms Safo’s vote increased from 63.8 per cent in 2012 to 68 per cent in 2016, before dropping to 58.35 per cent in 2020, with the NDC struggling to catch up with 35.6 per cent in 2012 and 31.5 per cent in 2016.

However, it is important to note that Ms Akurugu was the first NDC candidate to hit 40.64 per cent in 2020.

New trend

Gone are the days when politicians will ignore developmental issues and wait until elections to invest heavily in gifts in a bid to influence voters.

One of the untarred roads at Abokobi

Today, the story is different. Voters are gradually becoming sophisticated with a huge appetite for making extraordinary demands from their leaders.

The new trend is now driving many politicians to invest in research to understand the needs of the voters and develop tailored policies in the form of manifestos.

One constituency that will vote based on policies that will inspire hope, create opportunities, ensure access to potable water and improve environmental sanitation, among others, is the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency in the Greater Accra Region.

Interestingly, parliamentary candidates of the NPP and the NDC have been bombarding the constituents with many policy options to choose from ahead of the polls.

New entrant, Mike Oquaye Jnr of the NPP, is campaigning for continuity, with a focus on key areas such as education, health care, sanitation, infrastructure and industrial development; security, youth and women empowerment, as well as sports and agriculture.

On the other hand, NDC’s Faustina Elikplim Akurugu, who is making her second consecutive attempt, is leaving no stone unturned with her progressive change message under five thematic areas, including inclusive governance, safety and security, job creation, infrastructure development and social development and welfare.

Significantly, the Electoral Commission’s notice of poll for the 2024 parliamentary election featured four candidates: Mr Oquaye Jnr, Ms Akurugu, Dora Nyarko of the People's National Convention (PNC) and Remy Paa Kow Edmundson of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP).

With the exception of the NDC candidate who contested the 2020 parliamentary election, the other candidates are newcomers.

History

The seat is located within the Ga East Municipality of the Greater Accra Region. Created in 2004, the extensive constituency covers areas such as Dome, Haatso, Agbogba, Pillar 2, Westlands, Ashongman, parts of Abokobi, Kwabenya and Adankrabi.

The road leading to the Dome railway crossing

Its boundary constituencies are Amasaman, Trobu, Madina, Ayawaso West Wuogon and Akuapem South.

Its municipal assembly, Ga East Municipal Assembly, is made up of a general assembly membership of 18, which comprises 12 elected members and six government appointees.

The assembly is headed by Deborah Ampofo, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).

The municipality, with a projected population of 186,230 people, is one of the 29 districts in the Greater Accra Region. Ga East is unique for its hosting of the elite population in the country’s capital and is also noted for its well-planned physical layout, which has attracted many real estate companies such as Oak Villa, Regimanuel Gray and Edlorm Estate to the municipality.

Roll-call of MPs  

Since its establishment, the constituency has produced two Members of Parliament (MPs) so far. The first MP was Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye (2005-2012), the immediate past Speaker of Parliament, and the father of the current NPP candidate.

An aerial view of the Ga East Municipal Hospital, Kwabenya

After two terms, Prof. Oquaye handed over the baton to Sarah Adwoa Safo, whose third term will expire under the current Eighth Parliament (2013 to 2024).

The magnificent Ga East Municipal Hospital situated at Kwabenya is one of the landmarks in the constituency. The modern hospital, officially opened in November 2019, resonates with Ghanaians for the major role it played during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country in March 2020.

NPP’s commitment

Mr Oquaye Jnr, in a 21-page manifesto, expressed commitment to leave no stone unturned in his pursuit to foster growth and development within the constituency.

“I aspire to represent the esteemed people of Dome-Kwabenya as their Member of Parliament in 2025. I pledge to embody the true Dome-Kwabenya spirit characterised by selflessness, responsibility, fairness, courage, hard work and a steadfast dedication to social justice,” he said.

He said the constituency possessed immense potential, yet it faced significant challenges.

He said it was imperative to harness that potential to create tangible progress, uplift the constituents and build a brighter future for all.

“Education is the cornerstone of both individual and societal advancement. To nurture the potential of our youth and ensure a brighter future and job accessibility for our community, I am committed to implementing several initiatives.

“I will modernise school infrastructure to create a conducive learning environment. Some of the schools to benefit are Abokobi Senior High School, construct new STEM and TVET schools, enhance school security and develop recreational facilities,” he said.

Other areas to be improved are health care, sanitation, infrastructure and industrial development; security, youth and women empowerment; as well as sports and agriculture.

NDC’s change agenda

For her part, Ms Akurugu, in a 12-page booklet, presented her story of change after 20 years of the NPP’s dominance in the constituency.

A view of the Ga East Hospital, Kwabenya

“After 20 years of failed NPP leadership in the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency, the majority of constituents want a change now.

“This social contract between Elikplim Akurugu and the good people of Dome-Kwabenya presents an opportunity for progressive change,” she said.

To improve inclusive governance, the MP aspirant indicated that her administration would establish a fully equipped and state-of-the-art MP’s coordinating office in Dome-Kwabenya to cure the ‘missing-in-action MP’ syndrome.

“I promise to hold the annual state of the constituency address to update constituents on the state of the constituency. This will ensure transparency and accountability.

“I also promise to regularly engage with constituents through town hall meetings, surveys and online platforms. This will serve as a mechanism for constituents to voice their concerns and contribute to decision-making,” she added.

Ms Akurugu pledged to collaborate with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to construct a modern fire station with state-of-the-art facilities, including functional fire tenders, and also implement fire safety awareness campaigns and drills to educate constituents on preventive and safety protocols,” she said.

Conclusion

The constituency is agog with the election fever as the candidates intensify their campaigns, with each promising a compelling vision of hope.

As the contest reaches its pinnacle, the burning question on everyone's mind is: who will emerge victorious to claim the seat as the next Member of Parliament? Will the NDC pull off an upset, breaking the NPP stronghold in the area or will Mr Oquaye stretch the gap? December 7 will decide.