The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary elections scheduled for 2024 across the remaining constituencies will witness changes that would pave way for new entrants into the political scene as MPs.
The contest in the Eastern Region according to our investigations, will be an opportunity for new members to win the primaries to lead as parliamentary candidates for the 9th parliamentary elections.
Our team’s investigations in six constituencies suggest the entrance of new candidates to win the primaries to become parliamentary candidates.
These six constituencies’ outcome is due to the desire of NPP delegates and supporters’ strong conviction that, aspirants will offer them the needed leadership for growth and development.
The investigation also revealed that decisions of incumbents in these areas either to contest or not will not affect the performance and victory of the new entrants.
Names that are strongly gaining grounds in the areas are former youth organizer (NPP) and current CEO, of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammy Awuku, for Akwapim North; former NPP regional organizer for eastern region and NADMO coordinator, Kwame Appiah Kodua for Fanteakwa North; CEO of the Scholarship Secretariat, Dr Kingsley Agyeman, for Abuakwa South; Deputy Minister, Tourism and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey, for Ayensuanyo. Kingsley Ofosu for Atiwa West where the incumbent according to our source is not contesting, and finally, Joseph Osei Jagba for New Juabeng North.
All incumbent MPs in these six constituencies have done an average of two-terms except for Ayensuano which is currently an orphan seat represented by a representative of the NDC. Delegates and supporters are predicting massive victory for the new entrants in the range of (50%-60%)
Sammy Awuku and Dr Kingsley Agyemang are in pole lead with 70% if transition is smoothly handled.
The New Patriotic Party in 2020 parliamentary primaries witnessed some incumbent MPs in the Eastern Region losing to new entrants. Honourable Eric Kwakye Darfour lost the Nkawkaw seat to Joseph Frimpong, Mark Assibey-Yeboah, New Juaben South lost to Michael Okyere Baafi, Seth Acheampong lost the Mpraeso seat, to Davis Opoku Agyemang, Opare Ansah lost his seat to Boafo in Suhum.
The investigations established a strong correlation between NPP supporters preferred candidate and delegates’ preferred ones, an advantage to improve the party’s fortunes at the general elections.
Reasons for the rejection of the incumbent MPs and acceptance of New entrants ranges from non-performance, long stay in parliament, leadership style in the constituency while contributions of potential candidates in the constituency, competence and respect for members featured in the responses.
It also emerged that there has been strategic moves by some potential entrants during the polling stations, coordinators and constituency executives elections.