Charles Opoku wins NPP Assin North Parliamentary primary

Charles Opoku has been elected as the Parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming by-election on June 27, 2023 at the Assin North constituency of the Central Region.

Opoku won the primary with 397 votes out of the total valid votes of 536.

His sole contender Freeman Amoah-Kyei got 136 votes.

Three ballots were rejected.

This means, Charles Opoku will battle it out with the National Democratic Congress's James Gyakye Quayson.

Quayson snatched the Assin North seat from the NPP's Abena Durowaa in the 2020 Parliamentary election.

But per a Supreme Court interpretation of the 1992 Constitution, he was not qualified at the time he filed to contest the 2020 election as he held a dual citizenship at the time, with Canada as his second country.

Per a suit at the High Court in Cape Coast and the subsequent Supreme Court case, Quayson explained that he had applied to renounce his Canadian citizenship at the time he filed to contest and was waiting for his certificate of renunciation.

The certificate arrived later.

According to the Supreme Court ruling, he was therefore not qualified at the time he filed and has subsequently caused Parliament to declare the Assin North seat vacant.

This is why the EC, is organising the by-election.

Quayson has been nominated by the NDC to recontest the seat.

Charles Opoku is an electrical engineer at a private mining company in Tarkwa in the Western Region.

The 40-year-old is a native of Assin Bereku.

Graphic Online's correspondent in the Central Region, Shirley Asiedu-Addo, reports from Assin Akonfudi where the primary was held on Wednesday that, hundreds of enthusiastic NPP supporters poured on the streets of Assin Bereku in spontaneous jubilation after he was announced winner.

Mr Opoku rode in an open-top vehicle from Akonfudi to Assin Bereku receiving cheers from party supporters.

Some party members told Graphic Online's Shirley Asiedu Addo that Opoku was affable and honest and the best bet for the party to wrestle the seat from the NDC.

One of the jubilant supporters, Gladys Oppong said the NPP has made the best choice for the by-election.

"He is a good honest and humble person. With these qualities we are certain of a win.

Another supporter, Joseph Amoah said with such a credible candidate and efforts, the seat would be recaptured by the NPP.

Some NPP gurus including the General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua and the National Organiser, Nana Boakye were present at the election.

Mr Opoku has been instrumental in Assin North politics and was a member of TESCON at the Cape Coast Technical University during his university days