Deputy Minister for education and Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev John Ntim-Fordjuor, has expressed the need for political parties not to be complacent in the outcome of the Assin North by-election.

According to him, both the NPP and NDC must necessarily analyze the outcome of the recently held by-election and weigh in on the pros and cons. This, he indicated, will ensure that both parties come back stronger.

“The outcome of this election gives both parties a lot of indications going into 2024. It is not an outcome that must make any particular party complacent, rejoicing or demoralized. In the past couple of months, we’ve had two by-elections and clearly, NPP in Kumawu retained its seat and NDC in Assin North have retained their seat.”
Rev John Ntim-Fordjour

Justifying his stance on why both parties must not be complacent, Rev Ntim-Fordjour stated that the outcome of the Assin North by-election when compared to that of Kumawu only revealed the stronghold of the two parties.

He explained that considering votes garnered by Gyakye Quayson in 2020, it was just a difference of 273 votes more than that of President Akufo-Addo. In 2020, he stated that Mr Quayson garnered 17, 498 votes, represented by 55.2% and in 2023 by-election, he garnered 17,205.

Assin North residents resolute in voting pattern

With this, Rev Ntim-Fordjuor highlighted that this shows the people of Assin North have been resolute in their decision and have also remained consistent with the decision they took in 2020.

“But it also must indicated that NDC has retained the seat that belongs to them. NPP retained the seat that belonged to them [and] in each of these elections, they were keenly contested. So, 2024 is going to be very competitive. It’s going to be so competitive that no particular party ought to be complacent or comfortable. Whatever lessons ought to be drawn from this has to be drawn from messaging, strategies etc.”
Rev John Ntim-Fordjour

Furthermore, Rev Ntim-Fordjour emphasized that given the sophisticated complexities and the nature of the voters emerging, no particular party must claim to have an “insulated stronghold”. He noted that because the dynamics can change, likewise messaging, propaganda can easily turn things around.

“So, I wouldn’t even want to say that any particular party is very comfortable in some stronghold. Yes, Assin North has had dynamics change when the carving out of Assin North from Assin Central, it also changed some dynamics to a large extent. We have a number of communities even when they were together had always voted a certain trend for NDC, and in carving out, most of them found themselves there; but it has been a swing…”
Rev John Ntim-Fordjour

Commenting on the general conduct of elections, the deputy education minister commended the Electoral Commission. He revealed that per statements released by both the NDC, NPP and President Akufo-Addo, it proves the efficiency of the EC.

“… In all these statements, they are consistent and speak to the fact that the Electoral Commission did a good job. The NDC has conceded that indeed they have confidence in the Electoral Commission as a body that will conduct free, fair and transparent election as has been demonstrated in Kumawu and Assin North. I would want this narrative to be consistent in the messaging, posture and cooperation dealing at IPAC and dealings with the Electoral Commission going into the 2024 elections.”
Rev John Ntim-Fordjour

Also, Rev Ntim-Fordjour expressed the need for political parties to have confidence in the institutions that Ghana has. In a similar vein, he commended the security services for ensuring a peaceful election.

“All in all we thank all institutions and agencies who have contributed to the successful by-election. I have always held that in the Assin enclave, we have a very peaceful, cohesive society and we understand ourselves. If you check the record and ambience of our voting from 1992 till now, we’ve not had bloodsheds, shootings, we’ve not had those violence taking place and claiming lives on Election Day…”
Rev John Ntim-Fordjour