Prof. Yarhands Dissou Arthur has indicated that the Ejisu Constituency has been the safest seat for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) since 1996 after the party had initially boycotted the general elections in 1992 which resulted in NDC’s occupation of the seat between 1992 and 1996.
He noted that the Ejisu Constituency, over the years, has witnessed the emergence of independent candidates during parliamentary elections.
He, however, clarified that most of these independent candidates were not as influential and dominant as the former MP, Hon. Kwabena Owusu Aduomi.
“There has never been any strong independent candidate who has been able to do any magic in the history of Ejisu. If you check the results where NPP garnered approximately 76% of the total votes that were cast at that time [in 1996], you can say that the biggest threat as far as independent candidates are concerned in the Ejisu is this year’s by-election”
Prof. Yarhands Dissou Arthur
Furthermore, he noted that the Independent Candidature in the Ejisu constituency and the Ashanti region has not been an occurrence Political Analysts watch out for.
He emphasized that most independent candidates shy away from contesting the seats in the Ashanti region because their efforts usually go to waste due to the deep-rooted support NPP enjoys in the region.
More so, he indicated that Hon. Aduomi’s defeat during the 2016 NPP by-election was due to the displeasure he obtained from the NPP for praising the erstwhile NDC government for the construction of the Kasoa interchange.
He noted that given the popularity Hon. Aduomi enjoys and his record as the highest-voted NPP MP, the former MP can win the elections if he “plays his cards well”
He, however, indicated that with the NPP’s prominence in the constituency and the party’s unwavering support for its candidate, Dr. Kwabena Boateng, the by-election will be a tough one as getting a winner will be difficult.
Prof. Arthur also noted that given the current situation in Parliament, it will be damaging to the NPP if the former MP wins this by-election.
He emphasized the party will have to struggle with its position as the Majority in Parliament for the next seven months until the general elections in December.
NPP To Win By-Election
According to Prof. Yarhands Dissou Arthur, the NPP, as a political party, has a good chance of winning the by-election.
He, however, indicated that the victory margin between Hon. Aduomi and Dr. Boateng will be small, constituting the lowest percentage vote cast the NPP has ever recorded in the Ejisu constituency.
“Looking at the strength of Aduomi and the fact that NDC is not contesting, and most of the independent contestants are also emanating from the NPP as a political party. So, they are going to have to share some votes from different communities and the polling stations within the Ejisu enclave. For that reason, I expect that, yes NPP can win but they may have to struggle with Aduomi”.
Prof. Yarhands Dissou Arthur
He also noted that should Hon. Aduomi win this by-election, the NPP will have to put in a lot more effort to win back the trust of electorates in the Ashanti region before the general elections in December.
He indicated that the NPP should have drawn lessons from its situation with the Fomena MP who boycotted the party and won the Fomena Parliamentary election as an independent candidate.
He emphasized that had the Fomena MP decided to switch sides to the NDC, the NPP would have lost its majority in Parliament.
As such, he noted that NPP should have engaged Hon. Aduomi on a more amicable level as the former MP’s chances of winning the elections are high. “It looks like the NPP sometimes doesn’t learn”, he added.
He indicated that should the NPP lose the Ejisu by-election, it would be an indication that the NPP will perform poorly in the Ashanti Region and the country at large during the December 2024 polls.
