By Erica Apeatua Addo
Tarkwa (WR) Nov. 29, GNA – The Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency located in the Western Region is one of the hottest Parliamentary seats that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and an Independent Candidate are working tirelessly to grab in the December 7 election.
Apart from 1992 when the Late Kojo Kum from the NDC occupied the seat because the NPP boycotted the parliamentary elections, all attempts made by the NDC in the previous elections had failed.
The NDC’s candidate, Mr Issah Salifu Taylor and Miss Joy Jocelyn Andoh, an independent candidate has laced their boots and vowed to defeat the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) Mr George Mireku Duker and erase that history.
One may ask, can any of the two candidates pull Mr Duker out of the race with their present strength?
Mr Duker received the mantle from Mrs Gifty Eugenia Kusi, who was the MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem for four consecutive terms.
The race in Tarkwa Nsuaem is now between a former teacher, a former miner, and an entrepreneur.
The incumbent MP is running for the third time, Mr Taylor, who is a first-timer must work extra hard to secure the seat and make history for the NDC.
Miss Andoh, a second timer, in 2020 who attempted to contest on the ticket of the NPP, but she was disqualified and went as an independent candidate, also needs to put in more effort for a win.
The MP, who is running his campaign on the slogan, “epe papa bra bra bra, one way,” has mounted billboards at vantage points projecting his achievements. “A new era of hope and progress” is Mr Taylor’s campaign slogan while, Miss Andoh opted for “power to do more.”
In addition, all the candidates have mounted loudspeakers in vans moving around the constituency to canvass for votes for each of them.
Electoral areas
The constituency is made up of thirty electoral areas, and they are Essamang, Benso, Nkwanta, Tamso, Nsuaem-Zongo, Kadadwen-New Takoradi, Simpa Boyaya, Simpa-Sikafoabantem, Agona, Akyempim and Tarkwa-Aboso,
The rest are Layout, Green Compound, Brenuakyim, New Atuabo, Nsuta, Esuaso, Brahabebome, Cyanide, Kwabedu, Akodwoa, Bonsa, Dompim, Senyakrom, Teberebe, Nkamponase, Abontiakoon, Old Town, Tarkwa Zongo and Nsuaem.
According to the 2021 population and housing census, the population of the constituency stands at 218,644 with 113,055 males and 105,609 females. It has 263 polling stations with 140,050 registered voters.
During the last election Mr Duker had a tough contest but won with 31,946 votes, a vote difference of 101 ahead of his immediate contender, Mr John Justice Abban of the NDC, who obtained 31, 845 and Miss Joy Joycelyn Andoh, an independent candidate had 29,006 votes.
Constituents
GNA interacted with some constituents, and they revealed that all the three candidates have good programmes and policies that would help transform the fortunes of Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency when implemented, but the candidate who would be able to convince the electorate more would win the upcoming polls.
At the temporary lorry station created around the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa Basic School due to the construction of the Tarkwa-Agona Nkwanta road, a passenger said, “Come December 7 I will definitely exercise my franchise, but for now I have not decided who to vote for”
Miss Gloria Mensah, a student and first-time voter added that she had been monitoring the activities of all the candidates in the constituency and was already certain of his choice of candidate.
Also, Madam Ama Kissiwaa, a trader at Tarkwa Women market stressed that, “I am only going to vote for a candidate who is fully prepared to assist women to go about their businesses smoothly.”
Profile of candidates
Mr George Mireku Duker is 49-year-old and was born in Dompim-Pepesa in the Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency. He was a teacher and now a politician. In 2008, he was appointed as the Municipal Chief Executive of Tarkwa Nsuaem. Since 2017 he has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa Nsuaem and is currently the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
He schooled at Adisadel College, in Cape Coast,Komenda College of Education, Central Region, University of Education, Winneba, University of Plymouth, University of Oxford, University of Dundee and University of Law, all in UK
Mr Issah Salifu Taylor is 56-year-old and a former General Port Operations Manager at Ghana Manganese Company Limited. He was born in Nsuta and had his secondary school education at Tarkwa Senior High School in the Western Region. He studied at Selinus University of Science
and Literature, Italy, IICSE University, Wilmington, Delaware, USA, Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, India and Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, UK.
Miss Joy Joycelyn Andoh, was a banker, worked at the Ghana Revenue Authority and the telecommunication sector. She was schooled at Fiaseman Senior High School in Tarkwa and continued at the University of Cape Coast and is currently an entrepreneur and the Chief Executive Officer of Joy Foundation, a humanitarian enterprise touching lives.
GNA