The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has successfully conducted its parliamentary primaries for their constituencies, with 28 incumbents falling out of the race to December 7, 2024 parliamentary elections.
The sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) failed to secure another mandate from the party’s delegates to be the parliamentary candidates for those constituencies in the upcoming elections.
In the Ashanti Region, the world bank of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition, eight incumbent MPs were booted out. The eight who fell were; Isaac Kwame Asiamah – Atwima Mponua, Emanuel Agyei Anwhere – Atwima Nwabiagya South, Akwasi Darko Boateng – Bosome Freho and Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi – Odotobri.
The rest are Ama Pomaa Boateng – Juaben, George Kwabena Obeng Takyi – Manso Nkwanta, Ntim Augustine Collins – Offinso North and Eugene Boakye Antwi – Subin.
The Greater Accra Region saw Sheila Bartels – Ablekuma North, as well as Akwasi Owusu Afrifa-Mensah – Amasaman, Dickson Adomako Kissi, Anyaa Sowutuom and Sarah Adwoa Safo – Dome Kwabenya.
Others were Yves Hanson-Nortey – Tema Central, Moses Anim – Trobu and Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah – Weija Gbawe.
In the Eastern Region, about five incumbent MPs lost their seats. They are Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah – Fanteakwa North, Kwadjo Asante – Suhum, Gifty Twum-Ampofo – Abuakwa North, Kofi-Okyere-Agyekum – Fanteakwa South and Osei John Frimong – Abirem.
The two incumbents who lost their seats in the Central Region are Elvis Morris Donkoh – Abura Asebu Kwamankese, Bright Wireko-Brobby – Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira.
The Western Region saw Joseph Cudjoe – Effia and Samuel Erickson Abakah – Shama lose.
In the Ahafo Region, Freda Prempeh lost Tano North constituency.
Mahama Seini and John Benam lost at Daboya and Zabzugu respectively.
INCUMBENT
However, some incumbents managed to retain their slots. They include Kobina Tahir Hammond – Adansi Asokwa, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah – Ofoase-Ayirebi, Francis Asenso Boakye – Bantama, Sylvester Tetteh – Bortianor Ngleshie Amafrom, Henry Quartey – Ayawaso Central, Amidu Chinnia Issahaku – Sissala East, Collins Adomako Mensah – Afigya Kwabre North, Adelaide Ntim – Nsuta Kwaman Beposo and Ursula Owusu-Ekuful – Ablekuma West, among others.
PREVIOUS CASUALITY
This is not the first time the NPP in government has witnessed casualties. In the 2020 elections, for instance, the NPP had 40 of its incumbent MPs lose their primaries.
In that election, some aspirants who defeated incumbents have also been defeated this Saturday.
The contest was stronger this year than the last four years, and as usual, allegations of vote-buying re-emerged.
The election come off last Saturday, though a few were injuncted, completing the internal polls of the ruling NPP, ahead of the 2024 general elections.
MESSAGE
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said in a congratulatory message that the NPP, through the successful conduct of the internal elections, has demonstrated to Ghanaians that “we are the party of democracy and the rule of law.”
According to the president, the party has elected “a good blend” of experienced and youthful parliamentary candidates, who he is confident will help secure majority seats for the NPP in the ninth Parliament.
He consoled losers and asked them to support the winners, arguing that if the party was to ‘Break the Eight’, there must be unity and unalloyed support from losers to victors.
“I appeal to all who lost to remember that, in elections, there are winners and losers, and that today’s losers can be tomorrow’s winners.”
He also urged all party supporters to unite firmly behind the presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and all parliamentary candidates “and deliver another resounding victory for the party.”
This victory, he continued, would ensure that the NPP continued the process of bringing progress and prosperity to the country.
CONSOLATION
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is the flag bearer of the ruling NPP also consoled the losers in his congratulatory message after the elections.
He indicated that he, together with the rank and file of the party, need the support and contributions of the losers to secure majority seats and the presidency in December 2024.
He urged “unsuccessful aspirants to leave the elections behind, consider the supreme interest of the party, and work closely with the elected parliamentary candidates to secure success for the NPP.”
