The front view of the Sunyani Teaching Hospital

Sunyani East Constituency: History favours NPP

Biiya Mukusah Ali Features Sep - 13 - 2024 , 09:57

The Sunyani East Constituency in the Bono Region has undoubtedly been one of the strongholds and safest seats of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Fourth Republic.

The Constituency has a total of 110,576 registered voters per the 2020 general election.

The NPP is so strong in the constituency to the extent that in 2016, when Ghana’s former Ambassador to Libya and Nigeria, George Kumi, decided to contest as an independent candidate after a disputed primary, which was decided by a Sunyani High Court, incumbent MP, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, still retained the seat.

In the primary, Mr Kumi obtained 387 votes as against the 388 votes by Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh.

Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, NPP Member of Parliament for the Sunyani East Constituency

In that election, political analysts suggested that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, the late Kwasi Oppong Ababio, would win the seat because of the division in NPP, but that did not happen.

In the December 2024 general election, a Sunyani-based entrepreneur, Ransford Antwi, who is also one of the founder members of NPP in the region, has decided to contest as an independent candidate.

Seid Mubarak, NDC Parliamentary aspirant for the Sunyani East Constituency

He announced his intention on his Facebook wall, saying, “To those who think it would have been great to contest on a party ticket, unfortunately, I'm not resourced enough to be able to afford that.”

That notwithstanding, NPP says it remains focused on its campaign to retain the seat. The party said Mr Antwi’s decision to contest the parliamentary seat as an independent candidate was not new and could not disrupt its chances of retaining the seat.

Ransford Antwi, Independent candidate for the Sunyani East Constituency

Political dynamics

Apart from the 1992 election which was won by the NDC, the NPP has won all the parliamentary elections held in the constituency since the inception of the Fourth Republic.

Sunyani COCOBOD magnificent building

In the 1996 parliamentary election, Joseph Henry M ensah of the NPP obtained 23,752 votes (41.70 per cent) to beat Kwame Saarah-Mensah of the NDC, who had 17,054 votes (30 per cent), while Moses Owusu-Yeboah of the People's National Convention (PNC) had 2814 votes (4.90 per cent), and Obiri Boahen, independent candidate, polled 569 votes (1.00 per cent).

Again, in the 2000 general election, Mr Mensah retained the seat after polling 27,756 votes, representing 65.10 per cent, while Captain (rtd) F. Adu Kwaku Nkrumah of the NDC had 11,550 votes, representing 27.10 per cent. Shiekh Mustapha Abdullah of the Convention People's Party (CPP) garnered 1,269 votes (three per cent), Mr Owusu-Yeboah of the PNC got 1,039 votes (2.40 per cent), Boachie Amankwaa of the United Ghana Movement (UGM) had 592 votes, (1.40 per cent), while Boniface Kojo Mensah of the National Reform Party (NRP) had 427 votes (1.00 per cent).

In the 2004 parliamentary election, Mr Mensah (NPP) won again with 32,035 votes (59.40 per cent), Justice Samuel Adjei (NDC) got 17,860 votes ( 33.10 per cent), Cubagee Raphael, an independent candidate, had 1,478 votes (2.70 per cent), Rev. Nana Adjei-Ntow, Independent aspirant obtained 998 votes (1.80 per cent), Theophilus Kwame Chartey (CPP) polled 674 votes (1.20 per cent), Philip Awuah of the Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) had 581 votes (1.10 per cent) and Anthony Nana Antwi Boasiako, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) got 346 votes (0.60 per cent).

In the 2008 general election, Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP), who contested as a new candidate, won the seat with 33,765 votes (62.71 per cent), while Mr Adjei (NDC) got 18,830 votes (34.97 per cent); Alannyina Sampana Sampson (PNC) had 673 votes (1.25 per cent), Kwakye Kofi (CPP) obtained 422 votes (0.78 per cent), and Peter Kwaw Alibah of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) polled 154 votes (0.29 per cent).

Again, in the 2012 general election, Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP) retained the seat with 42,478 votes (59.06 per cent), while Mr Awuah (NDC) obtained 25,141 votes (34.96 per cent), Vivian Tetteh (PPP) got 3,682 votes (5.12 per cent), Michael Kwame Mensah Asare, an independent aspirant, had 291 votes (0.40 per cent), Mr Sampana (PNC) 228 votes (0.32 per cent) and Mr Boasiako (NDP) 98 votes (0.14 per cent).

In the 2016 election, Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP) again won with 38,009 votes (54.45 per cent), Mr George Kumi, an independent candidate, had 15,911 votes (22.79 per cent), while Kwasi Oppong Ababio (NDC) got 14,549 votes (20.84 per cent), Mrs Tetteh (PPP) garnered 910 votes (1.30 per cent), Mr Sampana (PNC) polled 221 votes (0.32 per cent), Barbies Ghandi Issah All Progressives Congress (APC) got 105 votes (0.15 per cent) and Titus Eshun (CPP) had 104 votes (0.15 per cent).

Again, in the 2020 general election, Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP) won with 49,005 votes (60.56 per cent), while Allan Mcbright Sekyere, a new candidate for the NDC, had 28,933 votes (35.75 per cent). Francis Kwabena Kusi (PPP) got 1,630 votes (2.01 per cent), Mrs Gifty Takyiwaa (GUM) garnered 893 votes (1.10 per cent), Mr Sampana (PNC) polled 240 votes (0.30 per cent), and Mr Eshun (CPP) got 222 votes (0.27 per cent).

Tough contest

In the December 2024 parliamentary election, the stage is set for a tough contest among the incumbent NPP MP, Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh, Seid Mubarak, a new candidate for the NDC, and Ransford Antwi, an independent candidate.

The Sunyani Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant

Four months to the general election, the candidates and their supporters have intensified their campaigns in the constituency. None of the candidates is taking the upcoming election lightly as they are seen across the length and breadth of the constituency, including remote communities, selling their campaign messages, ideas, and initiatives to voters.

It is common to see all the candidates at community gatherings or durbars, trying to catch the attention of voters.

Their posters and billboards are also visible in the area.

The candidates have also taken advantage of social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp to showcase their projects and support they have rendered to their communities.

Demographics

The Sunyani East Constituency, which is the same as the Sunyani Municipality, has a mix of formal and informal workers such as lecturers, teachers, health workers, civil and public servants, security personnel, traders and farmers, among others.

Seid Mubarak, NDC Parliamentary aspirant for the Sunyani East Constituency, on a campaign platform

The constituency was established in March 1989, by a legislative instrument (LI) 1473, with Sunyani as its administrative capital.

It shares boundaries with the Sunyani West Municipality to the north, Dormaa East District to the west, Asutifi South District to the south and Tano North District to the east.

The area has a population of 1,208,649, per the 2021 Population and Housing Census, with major communities such as Sunyani, Abesim, New Dormaa, Kotokrom, Yawhimkrom and Atronie.

The constituency hosts the Sunyani COCOBOD's magnificent building, which serves as a tourist attraction and meeting point, the Sunyani Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP), the Sunyani Teaching Hospital, Sunyani Technical University, the Sunyani Nursing and Midwifery Training College and the St James Seminary and Senior High School, one of the best SHSs in West Africa, Sunyani SHS and Twene Amanfo Senior High/Technical School, among others.

Residents

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, some residents in the area said the three contestants were competent and popular in the constituency.

There is a clear indication that loyal members of the NPP and NDC are settled to vote for their respective candidates, but most floating voters in the constituency are yet to settle on their preferred candidate.

A resident in Sunyani, Bright Ansah, told the Daily Graphic that he found it difficult to select a candidate he would vote for. He said all the candidates were popular and had good policies and programmes that could promote the local economy.

Concern

Another resident, Enoch Oppong Danquah, expressed concern about the deplorable state of some roads in the area.

Ransford Antwi, Independent candidate for the Sunyani East Constituency, on a campaign platform at Dagomba Community in Sunyani

He explained that most of the communities, including Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital, had poor drainage systems, resulting in flooding anytime it rained. Samuel Kofi Owusu also told the Daily Graphic that there was huge unemployment in the area.

He attributed the situation to lack of industries and inadequate entrepreneurial opportunities to engage the youth.

Independent candidate

Mr Antwi, the independent aspirant, who hails from Sunyani, told the Daily Graphic that for the past 32 years the constituency had not witnessed any major development, necessitating a developmental-oriented person like him to speed up development.

"The constituency lacks effective leadership, people are only pretending to be leaders and are only interested in pursuing their personal goals and interests. Let's think about the future of this area," he said.

Mr Antwi said his outfit had provided and fixed some broken water systems, street lights and sanitation facilities in some deprived communities.

He said he also played a critical role that led to the rehabilitation of the Sunyani Airport and the construction of the dressing room of the Sunyani Coronation Park, which enabled the park to meet the Ghana Premier League standard when Bofoakwa qualified for the elite league last year.

NDC candidate

The NDC aspirant, Mr Mubarak, told the Daily Graphic he was on a rescue mission to save the chiefs and people in the constituency. He said the area had totally been neglected due to poor representation in Parliament.

Mr Mubarak said his main agenda was to roll up special initiatives to benefit the constituents, including the needy and persons with disabilities (PWDs). He said he would build a thriving technology hub to facilitate job creation and development.

Mr Mubarak said he would also pay attention to women empowerment, communities and sector-based development.

Incumbent

However, at the Sunyani Traditional Council on Friday, August 9, 2024, Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh, who paid a courtesy call on the chiefs as part of his campaign tour, said the area had witnessed massive development under his administration.

He said he had not disappointed the chiefs and people who voted for him, explaining that he had worked hard to develop the area.

Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh said he had invested in the procurement of modern tools and equipment to stock the Sunyani Teaching Hospital and built several health facilities in some communities in the area.

He mentioned Atronie, Benu Nkwanta, Wawasua and Nkrankrom as some of the communities which had benefited from health facilities.

On roads, Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh said the government had worked hard to improve the road network in the area.
He said the construction of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) facility at Sunyani Ridge Experimental Basic would soon be completed.

Conclusion

While the results of parliamentary elections of the Sunyani East Constituency have always been predicted in favour of NPP since the inception of the Fourth Republic, the December 2024 election will be closely contested by the three main actors.

All things being equal, winning any parliamentary election in the constituency would not have been a problem for any NPP candidate.

However, the dynamics in the upcoming election make it very difficult to predict the outcome until the ballots are counted after the polls on December 7.

But it is clear that whoever wins the 2024 parliamentary election in the constituency will do so with a small margin.

Writer's email: [email protected]`