The New Patriotic Party, last Saturday, held parliamentary primaries in most of constituencies that it has no MPs there. These constituencies are called the Orphan Constituencies.
The results, as I can say, expressed the desire of the delegates to put up who they wanted. Fortunately, the NPP this time round, unlike four years ago, did not impose aspirants on the constituents. We may talk about inducement, later.
During, Saturday’s primaries, the current MP for Akropong North, Nana Ama Asiamah Adjei (AmaDokua), relocated down south and into the Okaikwei North Constituency and won.
Unfortunately, some former MPs who had wanted to be given a second bite of the mango, were effectively dumped. Cape Coast North, rejected Hon. Barbara Asher Ayisi in a way to show that she is no longer wanted around.
Akwatia also rejected Hon Mercy Adu Gyamfi (AmaSey). She was sitting MP in the Seventh Parliament, but during the primaries for the 2020 General Elections, she lost, but called for a recount, which never came. Maybe some of those in high places did not want her around.
In 2016, when the men, ran away from the then MP, Hon Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed of the NDC, it was Ama Sey who went forward and brought victory home, beating Baba Jamal by over 5,000 votes to become MP. After only a term in the House, she was dumped at the primaries to make the men go.
Another former MP who was effectively told that she was no longer wanted around, was Hon. Afoley Quaye of Krowor, in Accra. During the 2020 primaries, as sitting MP she won by three votes and represented the NPP again in the 2020 General Elections where she was lost.
Last Saturday, she made another appearance, but this time she failed after she was beaten to the last position by 374 votes, securing 373 votes against the winner, Oddai Laryea who had 747 votes. Afoley had beaten Oddai by three votes in 2020.
In Prestea Huni Valley, Hon Barbara Oteng Gyasi, the former MP, is back to show her readiness and ambition to win the seat back from the NDC. Another former MP who is back to claim the constituency seat is Teshie Ledzokuku’s Hon. Dr. Okoe Boye.
The Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority, secured 902 votes or 55% of the total valid votes cast of 1,635, and has now put Teshie Ledzokuku into the class of at least two constituencies to watch in 2024.
In this constituency, the indigenes have developed a principle of not allowing anyone to become an MP, more than once. So, one will hear the common phrase, “Ayaashienyo” to wit, “No one goes, twice.” Apart from Hon Adjei Boye-Sekan, who won the seat twice in 1992 and 1996, no MP had retained the seat. Because in Teshie, “ayaashienyo.” So, it was when in 2020, the hardworking development-oriented Hon. Okoe Boye was rejected at the polls.
When journalists interviewed the indigenes as to why they showed Okoe-Boye the exit, what was mostly heard was “Ayaashienyo.”
The interesting thing, today, is Ayiku is also going for the second bite of the mango as he represents the NDC for the 2024 General Elections. So, Teshie Ledzokuku is going to have to decide on whether to stick to their culture of rejecting any MP who is coming a second time or seriously look at which of the two is more development-oriented to help the constituency, and here, Dr. Okoe Boye stands tall.
Another constituency, which is going to be interesting to watch is the Guan constituency in the Oti region. At the close of polls on Saturday, Mr. Osibo won the primaries by three votes.
He was a very key player in advocating for the creation of the Oti region and was seen working for the proposal, convincing the indigenes about the benefits of having their own region. On the other side, the NDC is presenting Fred Agbenyo, hoping to win the elections and become Guan’s first MP.
While Osibo was seen as selflessly helping to create the Oti region, Fred Agbenyo was seen as one of the influential people who kicked against the idea.
In 2024, will the people of Guan consider the fact that they belong to a region of their own and vote for Osibo, and thank him for his good efforts or will they go business-as-usual and vote for the NDC’s Fred Agbenyo? It will be reformation versus tradition. And back to Teshie, the question will be, “anii, ayaashienyo, lo?”
To wit, “do they go twice?”
But come to think of it, the earlier the people of Teshie discard this culture of “ayaashienyo,” the better it will translate into development of the constituency. As it stands, any MP of Ledzokuku, knowing he or she will become a one-term MP, would rather focus more on self and self-interest than on the needs of the constituency and what the constituents want; for after all, whether he performs well or not, he will not be allowed to be MP, twice.
By Hon Daniel Dugan
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.
