The Minister of Works and Housing and Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Francis Asenso Boakye is caught up in what political scientists may call experiencing the ‘one term jinx’ in the Bantama Constituency ahead of the New Patriotic Party Parliamentary primaries for the 2024 general elections.
He has declared his intention to represent the New Patriotic Party again in the 2024 general election as its parliamentary candidate amidst opposition from Ralph Agyapong, a renowned Lawyer and brother of the Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
According to the Spokesperson for Mr. Kennedy Agyapong’s Campaign Team for the New Patriotic Party 2023 November 4 Presidential Primaries, he has the blessings from his brother and the maverick politician, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
“The overwhelming encouragement I’ve received from the people made me seriously consider contesting. When I observed my campaign posters circulating on social media, I reached out to Hon Ken, and he advised me to go ahead and vie for the Bantama constituency seat. I spend a lot of time in the Bantama constituency, and from what I’ve gathered, the constituents are dissatisfied with the current MP’s management. I feel compelled to step in and take charge. To the people of Bantama, I want to assure you that I have heeded your calls, and I am ready to contest and win the seat.”
Lawyer Ralph Agyapong
Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the delegates and the people of Bantama to retain his former Deputy of Chief Staff and current Minister of Water, Works and Housing, Francis Asenso Boakye to represent the Bantama Constituency in the 2024 general elections for the second time on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the Bantama Constituency legislator has demonstrated strong commitment and dedication towards his service to the country and the people of Bantama, hence he would be very disappointed if the people of Bantama fail to retain him as their Member of Parliament.
“Thanks for grooming Asenso-Boakye for me. He does everything appropriately. He will always bring you good news whenever I send him to do something on my behalf. He became the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Jubilee House and to date, people still call his name and praise him for his hard work. It will hurt me so much if the people of Bantama throw him away. Allow him to represent you again and he will come and continue the good job he has been doing”
President Akufo-Addo
It is important to note that the New Patriotic Party in Bantama Constituency since the 2012 election have been represented by different Parliamentary candidate in every general election as incumbent Members of Parliament lose to new comers.
For instance, Mr Henry Nana Kokofu the then incumbent Member of Parliament for the constituency lost his second bid attempt to the late Daniel Okyem Aboagye in 2015, a first-time comer who also lost his next attempt to the current Member of Parliament, Francis Asenso Boakye in 2019.
Moreover, Mr Asenso Boakye’s troubles worsened as evidenced by results in the Bantama Constituency after the New Patriotic Party Presidential Primaries on November 4 2023 questioned his popularity in the Constituency.
Thus, despite his open support for the Vice President and opposition against the Assin Central lawmaker, Mr Kennedy Agyapong received significant votes of 404 against the Dr Mahamudu Bawumia votes of 422 in the party’s presidential primaries in the Bantama constituency.
Again, with Lawyer Ralph Agyapong’s popularity in the constituency coupled with support from his brother and maverick politician Mr Kennedy Agyapong, the Jubilee House ‘darling boy’ would face a very competitive contest in the party’s upcoming parliamentary primaries.
It is without doubt that at the back of history, the current Member of Parliament, Francis Asenso Boakye may have already seen the signs of a possible ‘showdown’, hence the call from his ‘godfather’, President Akufo-Addo to appeal to delegates to retain him.
Whether Mr Francis Asenso Boakye could defeat or not defeat the one-term jinx in the Bantama Constituency remains a matter of time, however, history and recent event do not favour him.
He thus risks losing the ticket to represent the New Patriotic Party in its voter bank in the Ashanti region with the least underestimation of his opponent, Lawyer Ralph Agyapong.
READ ALSO: Chamber Of Petroleum Consumers Decries Of Rising Level Of Bad Fuel
