Richard Ahiagbah, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) director of communications, predicts that the NPP would garner more than 90% of the votes in the upcoming Kumawu by-elections.
Ahiagbah hinted in an interview that the NPP will defeat its rivals, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and other interested parties thanks to the extensive development the NPP has commissioned in the constituency, in the race to succeed the late Philip Basoah, who passed away in March after a brief illness.
“I can tell you with all certainty that if a vote is cast on Tuesday, the NPP will get not less than 90 percent of the total vote cast.”
Richard Ahiagbah
He also denied rumors that the ongoing road development projects in the district are intended to bribe votes.
He said that months before the Kumawu lawmaker’s tragic death in March, the administration had already started the construction process.
“These processes had been put in place and everything was supposed to start in March, but it was left with contractor selection and other related issues and eventually, the people selected a contractor. And so, it was a question of timing and the unfortunate incident of our brother, Basoah happened just before this whole thing started.”
Richard Ahiagbah
In its internal elections, the NPP chose Ernest Yaw Anim to represent the party in the byelection slated for May 23, 2023.
The National Democratic Congress and NPP are ferociously running campaigns to capture the seat.
A few days ago, the NPP government in the region began some infrastructure initiatives. But Kwasi Amoako-Atta, the minister of roads and highways, refuted claims that the recent infrastructure upgrade in the Kumawu constituency is intended to sway voters ahead of the by-election.
Philip Basoah; Late Kumawu MP To Be Buried Today
Today, Saturday, May 20, is Philip Basoah’s funeral. He served as a member of parliament for the Kumawu seat in the Ashanti Region.
MPs from the majority and minority parties, as well as members of the New Patriotic Party, will be in Kumawu to offer their condolences to the deceased’s family and pay their respects to the late lawmaker.
The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, confirmed that “yes the funeral is coming off on Saturday. The chief mourner, Kumawuhene, Barima Sarfo Tweneboah Kodua II, has confirmed to us [NPP] that the funeral is happening on Saturday. All things being equal, our brother will be laid to rest, and we wish that his soul will be at peace. And we will carry on with whatever activities we have to undertake to make sure his legacy is firmly planted.”
Philip Basoah, a member of parliament for the Ashanti Region’s Kumawu seat since 2017, passed away on March 27, 2023.
After winning the Kumawu constituency in the 2016 general elections, he was first elected to Parliament in 2017. From June 2005 to January 2009, Mr. Basoah served as the Chief Executive for the Sekyere East District and a tutor at the Agogo State College before entering politics.
He won the parliamentary seat in the 2016 general elections with 21,794 votes, or 78.2% of the total votes voted for the New Patriotic Party candidate. He won the parliamentary seat in the 2020 general elections with 14,960 votes, or 51.1% of the total votes cast.
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