As expected, former President John Dramani Mahama swept 98.9% of the valid votes cast in last Saturday’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential and parliamentary primaries to become the official presidential candidate for the party in the 2024 elections.
He is now waiting with bated breath, either for Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia or Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen to be elected in November this year for the real battle to begin.
Whilst his election did not come as a surprise, especially when his main contender, Dr Kwabena Duffuor pulling out of the race at the last hour, citing flaws he and his team had detected in the voters register, the fall of some of his trusted Members of Parliament has a come as a surprise.
At the last count, 17 incumbent NDC parliamentarians, some of whom are known names in the House and within media circles, had lost their seats to fresh faces.
Known for his proverbs, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Sagnarigu, A.B.A. Fuiseini lost to Attah Issah.
The renowned media man, who once said: “when a man dies in the market, you do not need to announce his funeral”, garnered a measly 330 votes as against 801 polled by Attah Issah.
Another big name in Ghana’s Parliament who lost his bid to contest for the Pru East is Dr. Kwabena Donkor, a former minister for Power. He lost to Emmanuel Kwaku Boam, who garnered 474 votes.
In the Kpando Constituency, Dela Sowah, the incumbent MP, managed 281 votes, while Sebastian Fred Deh won with 332.
Charles Bawaduah with 535 votes torpedoed the re-election bid of Edward Bawa who had 509 votes to represent the Bongo constituency.
In South Tongu, Wisdom Woyome garnered 562 votes but lost to Maxwell Kwame Lukutor who polled 597 votes.
Sekyere Afram Plains has a new representative going into the 2024 parliamentary election. The incumbent, Dr. Alex Adomako Mensah lost to Hajia Nasira Afrah.
In Bia West, the incumbent MP, Augustine Tawiah, lost to Mustapha Amadu Tanko. Mr. Tanko won with 935 votes whilst Mr. Tawiah polled 452 votes.
In Krachie East, the incumbent MP, Wisdom Gidisu, lost with 257 votes. The main contender, Nelson Kofi Djabab, won with 441 votes.
The MP for Navrongo, Sampson Tangombu Chiragia, also lost his bid to contest again in 2024. He lost with 447 votes to Simon Akibange Aworigo, who won with 475 votes.
Also, the MP for Afadzato South, Angela Alorwu-Tay lost her bid to retain her candidacy. She polled 225 votes, losing to her contender, Frank Afriyie, who won with 631 votes.
The MP for Ekumfi constituency, Abeiku Crentsil, had 149 votes and lost to Dr. Ekow Kwainoo, who had 329 votes.
Thomas Addah Dalu in the Chiana-Paga constituency also lost with 300 votes to a young businessman, Nikyema Alamzy, who polled 488 votes.
At Amenfi Central, Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah had 575 votes and lost to Joana Gyan Cudjoe, who had 756 votes.
The rest of the sitting MPs who lost their re-election bid are: Sophia Karen Edem Ackuaku, Domeabra-Obom MP, who switched to Ayawaso Central.
Edward Kaale-Ewola Dery, Lambussie constituency; Christian Otuteye, Sege constituency and Albert Akuka Alalzuuga, Garu constituency
ARREST
Meanwhile, the police arrested eight suspects across the country for various election-related offences and disturbing the public peace.
At various voting centers across four constituencies, the police arrested Yaro Burdove, Harrison Martey, Imoro Ibrahim, Arkoli Mensah, Nyarko Richard, Prince Lomotey, Hamidu Dramani, and Bejando Emmanuel.
The statement from the police that announced the arrests said that some voters attempted to take photographs of their ballots. Others engaged in an “unlawful fight” at a voting center.
Five of the suspects are currently on police inquiry bail, while the three others are in custody, assisting the ongoing police investigation.
Meanwhile, the police said they are investigating an incident in which Madam Juliana Kinang-Wassan, who contested the Ejura Sekyeredumase seat in the Ashanti Region, was seen in a video spraying money at a crowd during the elections.
The statement added that a dedicated legal team is currently scrutinising her conduct in the video to establish whether there are elements of election-related crime that warrant police intervention or otherwise.
