New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates in the Bekwai constituency in the Ashanti Region have chosen a new path to progress and development in their constituency by electing for a young Ghanaian lawyer, Ralph Poku-Adusei to contest and represent them in the next parliament.
The election, held on Saturday, 27 January, 2024 saw Ralph Poku-Adusei, who was second on the ballot paper, which had four candidates, polled six hundred and sixty-two (662) votes of a total of nine hundred and thirty-eight (938), representing 70% of the valid votes cast.
His closest contender, Commissioner of Police (COP) George Alex Mensah (Rtd), polled two hundred and forty-five (245) votes, representing 26% of the valid votes cast.
The other aspirants, Kingsley Opoku Agyeman, secured only one (1) vote, representing 0.001% and Henry Opoku Adusei, secured thirty (30) votes, amounting to 3% of the valid votes cast.
Joe Wise candidate rejected
The delegates are said to have chosen a new path because they rejected the candidate who was openly supported by the outgoing Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bekwai constituency and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu (Joe Wise).
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament endorsed the candidature of COP George Alex Mensah (Rtd) and was seen campaigning for him in various towns and villages in the Bekwai Municipality.
However, the candidate of the sitting MP managed to secure only 26% of the valid votes cast, which was certainly not enough to win the Bekwai constituency candidature.
Endorsements
The vetting committee, chaired by Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B), before whom Ralph Poku-Adusei appeared, praised him for his unwavering support and commitment to the people of Bekwai and to all NPP faithful in the constituency.
Speaking on behalf of his two other colleagues on the committee, after vetting Ralph Poku-Adusei, Henry Nana Boakye said Mr Poku-Adusei demonstrated pure love and dedication to the NPP and to the people of the Bekwai municipality.
“Everything you have said in response to our probing questions at this vetting has established that you have a genuine desire to ensure that the NPP as a Party stays in office to develop the country and that the Bekwai constituency gets it first share of this development.
“You have earned my personal admiration and that of the committee, and we wish you a successful primary contest on 27 January, 2024. We are fully persuaded that the delegates of Bekwai will reward your hard work, support and commitment to them by electing you as their parliamentary candidate for the 7 December, 2024 elections, “Nana Boakye said to the admiration of Lawyer Ralph’s supporters, who accompanied him to the vetting.
The NPP Ashanti regional chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), at the vetting also commended Ralph Poku-Adusei for his selfless support and contribution to the growth and development of the NPP, particularly in Bekwai. He also endorsed Ralph Poku-Adusei’s candidature.
The Secretary to the committee, Iddi Muhaya-Deen, after Ralph’s vetting called for a standing ovation in his honour, and the same was observed by all present, amidst a loud round of applause.
13 out of the 17 executive committee members (10 elected, 3 appointed) and 29 out of the 34 electoral area coordinators also endorsed the candidature of Ralph Poku-Adusei, ahead of the primaries.
Profile of Ralph
Ralph Poku-Adusei is a Managing Partner at Trent Legal Amansie Chambers, a Notary Public, a British trained and well-seasoned legal practitioner with about thirteen (13) years’ experience in all facets of corporate and commercial practice, land acquisition, criminal practice and has been intimately involved in leading ground-breaking litigation.
Throughout his years as a legal practitioner, he has successfully advised and represented both local and international clients working in Ghana.
He is a member of the Ghana Bar, the Bar of England and Wales, and the International Bar Association. Ralph’s Alma maters include; The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, UK, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Law, UK (formerly The College of Law of England and Wales, UK) Ghana School of Law, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, among others.
He doubles up as an entrepreneur with 15 years in business leadership, the founder and chairman of the Board of Directors of First Cedi Investment Ltd, a real estate development company domiciled in the Greater Accra Region.
He is also the proprietor of Firstcedi Micro-Credit Enterprise, which provides lending services to the communities within and around Bekwai in the Ashanti Region of the Republic of Ghana. Ralph Poku-Adusei is a relentless optimist, an effective communicator and a motivator who identifies and leverages assets in teammates to reach organisational goals.
