The Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency, George Mireku Duker and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah have both filed their nomination forms in their respective constituencies in the Western region.
Duker, who is the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), is going into the race for the third time, while Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, who is also the Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, is seeking to represent his constituents for the fifth consecutive time.
Armah Kofi Buah is famously known for defeating Freddie Blay in 2009 and since then he has represented the constituency as a legislator on the ticket of the NDC.
In the last parliamentary election, he beat his main challenger, Kwasi Bonzo, with over a ten thousand vote difference.
Duker filed on the day of the opening of the nomination and he was accompanied by a crowd of party supporters to the Electoral Commission’s (EC) office to formally present his nomination form, received by Returning Officer Bismark Adu Minkah.
Speaking with journalists after the submission of his nomination form, George Mireku Duker indicated the journey to represent his people for the third time has just begun with the filing of his nomination form.
Describing his filing as ‘filing of victory, Legislator Duker indicated that he was ready and more poised than before to lead his people.
He continued, “It’s a filing of victory and indeed I have filed to secure victory. I am going to widen the gap and it’s not going to be like what happened in 2020, where I won by a slim margin.”
The NDC has presented a new face, Issah Salisu Taylor, who would be going into the race with the incumbent, together with one independent candidate, Joy Joycelyn.
Joy polled over 20,000 votes in the last parliamentary race.
Given the slim margin incumbent Duker used to retain his seat, there are fears the seat may be up for grabs.
But incumbent Duker parried off the fears, saying “This time around it’s going to be a different story and they should watch out.
“I have not rested since the day I was sworn in as MP in 2021. And I believe if voting is dependent on provision of development projects, then I should be retained.”
He continued and assured, “I am going to win and the gap is going to widen, and convincingly I am going to be exonerated. It’s two people in the contest, Duker and the others, and I will beat them convincingly.”
The Tarkwa MP indicated that he was resting on the oars of God and believing that He that has started a good work with him and would end with him.
He told journalists that in terms of development, there were so many things he has done in the area of health, education, infrastructural development and sports.
“These are thematic areas that I have developed tremendously and I believe these are tangibles that work and are out there for people to see.”
The incumbent legislator for Ellembelle, on the other hand, was accompanied by a large crowd of party supporters, local party executives and community leaders to the EC office to file his nomination form.
Speaking to the media, Deputy Minority Leader Armah Kofi Buah assured his readiness to continue to serve the people.
MP Armah Buah arrived at the EC office in the hours of 11:30 am where he submitted his nomination forms to seal his candidature on the ticket of the opposition party.
