In case you are an ardent political observer, the outcomes of the just-ended polling station and constituency elections of the ruling New Patriotic Get together (NPP) must be of immense curiosity to you. The incumbent social gathering is concentrated on breaking the eight-year cycle, a feat which is uncharacteristic of nationwide elections in Ghana.
Resulting in this imaginative and prescient, there was a silent contest for the kingship of the NPP – The race to grow to be Presidential Candidate by key names in President Akufo-Addo’s authorities.
Personalities such because the Vice-President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, Commerce Minister, John Alan Kyerematen, Agric Minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Power Minister, Boakye Agyarko and lately, MP for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong have been tipped as a frontrunner.
These are the highest 5 names for the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Get together for the 2024 elections.
Nonetheless, to make this dream a actuality, they must undergo a rigorous strategy of securing the nomination of the flagbearership from delegates of the social gathering (members on the grassroots degree) made up of executives from the polling stations, at electoral areas and the constituency degree.
With this background, it’s straightforward to image the competition between the Vice President and Commerce Minister because the former has been the quantity 2 man in Ghana since 2016 and the latter has been a three-time contender for the job since 2008. Each males have additionally successfully delivered on their particular person mandates with clear outcomes.
The Vice President is credited with digitising all authorities companies throughout all sectors, with the latest being the profitable introduction of the Ghana card. Hon. Alan Kyerematen additionally boasts of the profitable implementation of presidency’s 1D1F throughout Ghana, the institution of VW and Toyota Automobile Meeting vegetation in Ghana, amongst others.
Curiously, on the base of the social gathering, polling station executives appear to have a special particular person in thoughts for the job regardless of the successful streaks of the seemingly prime 2 contenders. Latest electoral outcomes popping out of the bottom are portray a special image.
There have been enormous surprises. Candidates supported by the 2 predominant contenders haven’t made the wanted influence as anticipated. Within the Northern Area, the house sector of Dr. Bawumia, the outcomes have been nothing wanting a shock. Candidates he supported for positions inside the constituencies didn’t garner sufficient votes to win their respective portfolios.
Under is a abstract of the outcomes, verified by a group of impartial researchers following the NPP’s inner constituency elections.
These are the outcomes pending the result of Yendi, Savelugu and Nanton constituency elections.
From the above, the shock has been Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto. In what has been described because the “Akoto Issue”, the Agric Minister has emerged because the “individuals’s selection” within the Northern Area. The “Akoto Issue” has been answerable for the electoral defeats of all the opposite candidates.
Out of 150 contested positions, Akoto-sponsored candidates gained 64 representing 42% of the entire legitimate votes forged. This was adopted by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, whose group clinched 39 positions representing 26% of the legitimate votes forged.
Staff Alan Kyerematen held 30 positions representing 20% of legitimate votes adopted by group Boakye Agyarko with the least illustration of 17 positions representing 12% of legitimate votes forged.
Our analysis group has additionally verified that the “Akoto Issue” has taken all of the remaining areas by storm and Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto is main on the grassroots degree as the popular candidate to guide the NPP as its Presidential Candidate.
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The author is a political researcher primarily based in Ghana
