By Ibrahim Khalilulahi Usman
Kumasi Nov. 29, GNA – The Manhyia South Constituency, located in the Kumasi Metropolitan District of the Ashanti Region, has been a stronghold of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) since its establishment in 1996.
Known as “the heart of Kumasi,” it is home to the Manhyia Palace, the seat of the Golden Stool, and features one of Ghana’s popular markets, Alabar.
The constituency also hosts the National House of Chiefs, Manhyia Hospital, and Al-Watania Amiriya, a leading Islamic Arabic and English educational institution.
With a population of over 40,000, these landmarks position the constituency as a multicultural urban area.
Manhyia South is among the more privileged constituencies in the country, boasting various infrastructures, including schools, a hospital, a fire service station, a post office, and modern football parks.
However, it still faces challenges, particularly concerning drug addiction.
“Tinka Island,” an area within the constituency, is notoriously known for illegal drug deals, contributing to the moral decay of many innocent individuals.
Despite ongoing efforts by authorities to combat this issue, quick progress has yet to be made.
Parliamentary Representation
The constituency has had only two Members of Parliament (MPs) since 1997, both from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Kwame Addo-Kufuor represented the constituency from January 1997 to January 2009, after which he was succeeded by Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh.
Dr. Prempeh, commonly known as “Napo,” has held the seat since winning his first election in 2008.
Although this is a traditional NPP seat, other political parties have contested in each election, though they have received only a small portion of the votes.
In the upcoming elections, there will be 108 polling stations and some 30,000 registered voters.
This year, three young politicians are set to compete for the parliamentary seat:
• Nana Agyei Baffuor Awuah representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
• Marfo Kwaku representing the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG)
• Rita Amonu Gyamfua Antwi representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Historical Election Trends
The constituency’s voting history highlights the overwhelming dominance of the NPP.
Even though the NDC has not had less than 10 per cent of the total votes, other political parties have always maintained 1 – 2 per cent of the total votes.
Let us look at the trend of how political parties have fared since 1996.
1996: The NPP had a landslide victory with 81.4% of the votes, while the NDC managed only 18.6%
2000: The NPP maintained their dominance with 81.8% of the votes, and the NDC saw a slight decrease to 15.6%
2004: The NPP saw a slight dip to 75.6%, while the NDC hit an all-time low of 10.9%
2008: The NDC saw a slight increase to 20.3%, but the NPP still held strong with 77.2%
2012: The NPP continued to dominate with 82.1%, while the NDC saw another decrease to 16.1%
2016: The NPP reached an all-time high of 86.2%, leaving the NDC at 12.1%
2020: The NPP maintained their lead with 84.72%, and the NDC saw a slight increase to 15.28%
Analysing the parliamentary election trends in the Manyhia South Constituency, the NPP has dominated the area for decades, with the NDC’s share of the vote mostly declining.
However, there are a few exceptions, like in 2008 when the NDC’s share increased to 20.3%.
Considering the current economic situation in Ghana, it is possible that the NDC could increase their votes in the constituency.
Ghanaians are dealing with high inflation, a depreciated cedi, and a general cost of living crisis.
These factors might encourage voters to consider an alternative to the ruling NPP.
However, it is important to note that the NPP has a strong hold on the constituency, and the other contesting political parties would need to run a strong campaign to capitalize on the economic woes.
They would need to convince voters that they can offer better solutions to the many challenges the constituency is facing.
It is also worth noting that the NDC’s share of the vote has been decreasing over the years, with a slight increase in 2008.
This trend might continue if the NDC does not change their strategy.
For the any political party to make inroads, they will need to mount a strong campaign that directly addresses the economic concerns of voters.
This involves not only critiquing the NPP’s record but also offering credible and compelling alternatives.
While the Manhyia South Constituency remains a fortress for the NPP, economic conditions could inspire a shift in voter sentiment.
Nevertheless, the NPP’s historical dominance suggests that a notable change in this election would require extraordinary efforts from any political party seeking to break the NPP gene.
GNA