Former president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwasi Nyantakyi, faced disappointment as he lost the NPP parliamentary primary in Ejisu constituency.
In the closely-watched contest, Kwasi Nyantakyi secured only 35 votes out of the total of 1081 delegates who cast ballots to determine the fate of nine candidates.
Thus, in advance of the upcoming December elections, Kwabena Boateng, the second Vice Chairman for the Ejisu Constituency, therefore emerged victorious as the New Patriotic Party’s Parliamentary Candidate for Ejisu.
Boateng secured 394 votes in Saturday’s primary, outperforming his closest competitor, Helena Mensah, who garnered 302 votes. Yaa Akyemaa Aboagye trailed with 229 votes.
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Please see the full results below:
1. Lawyer Kwabena Boateng, the second Vice Chairman for the Ejisu Constituency, – 391 votes.
2. Dr. Evans Duah, a lecturer at Akenten Appiah Minkah University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, – 61 votes.
3. Klinsman Karikari Mensah – 62 votes
4. Helena Mensah, Presiding Member of Ejisu Municipal Assembly – 302 votes
5. Jacqueline Abena Pokua Amoah-Boaitey, also known as ‘Ejisu Broni’ – 0
6. Portia Baffoe Abronye, the wife of the New Patriotic Party Regional Chairman for Bono Region, Kwame Baffoe alias Abronye DC – 6 votes
7. Lawyer Kwesi Nyantakyi, former GFA boss and legal practitioner – 35 votes
8. Aaron Prince Duah – 2 votes
9. Yaa Akyawmaa Aboagye – 209 votes
The party conducted the parliamentary primary following the demise of the Member of Parliament for Ejisu, John Ampontuah Kumah.
Throughout the week, campaign activities were fervent as aspirants diligently engaged with delegates to secure their votes.
High interest
Ejisu is one of the safest seats of the NPP in the region and the constituents have always voted for the party. It, therefore, goes without saying that anyone who emerges as the winner of the primary is an automatic MP. This fact might have accounted for the high interest in the seat by the party members.
In the last parliamentary elections, the NPP candidate secured a whopping 68,326 votes representing 82.8 percent of the total votes as against 14,164 by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, representing 17.2 percent of the votes cast.
EC
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (EC) has set April 30, 2024, for the by-election.
Article 112(6) of the 1992 Constitution states that a by-election should not be held three months before a general election.
By-Election
No other political party has yet expressed interest in the by-election.
The National Democratic Congress has stated that it is still considering whether to participate in the by-election.
The former MP for the area and Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, a known supporter of Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen’s Movement for Change, has also declared his intention to contest as an independent candidate.