By Dominic Antwi Agyei
Kwadaso (Ash), Nov. 29, GNA – Kwadaso constituency, located in the heart of Kumasi, has been one of the strong pillars of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in all elections under the fourth republic.
The constituency since it was carved out of the Bantama in 2004, has delivered huge electoral votes in both the parliamentary and presidential elections for the NPP.
The seat was first held by Madam Josephine Hilda Addo, on the ticket of NPP, from 2004 to 2008, and had since then, become “one candidate one term” constituency for the NPP.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the former Minister for Food and Agriculture, took over the seat from 2008 to 2016.
Dr. Akoto, lost the seat in the NPP’s 2016 primaries to Dr. Samiu Kwadwo Nuamah, the former Member of Parliament, who also lost the seat to Professor Kingsley Nyarko, the current MP, to represent the constituency in parliament on the ticket of NPP, in the 2020 elections.
Prof. Nyarko, the incumbent MP, won the NPPs primaries in January to contest the 2024 elections, making him the only candidate to contest on the ticket of the NPP for a second term.in the constituency.
The scenario indicates that the seat, though for the NPP, had not been a soft one as such.
Each of the candidates had one term to serve the people and this seems to have become the norm until Prof Nyarko broke the jinx.
Prof. Nyarko, a renowned Psychologist and the former Executive Secretary of the National Accreditation Board (NAB), seems to have a huge backing from the NPP supporters in the constituency.
His campaigns had seen massive enthusiasm from both the youth and the aged, who had always seen rallying support and canvassing for the people to give the candidate a second term in office in the December 07, elections.
A total number of 91,730 people in the constituency have registered their names in the national electoral roll to vote in the 2024 polls, within the 203 voting centres.
Apart from the incumbent MP contesting on the ticket of the NPP, Mr. Eric Assibey, who contested Prof Nyarko in 2020, is also contesting again, on the ticket of the NDC.
Mr. Assibey, a former Assembly Member in the constituency, has promised to end the NPPs dominance in the constituency.
Mr. David Kwasi Adongo, is also contesting on the ticket of the People’s National Convention (PNC).
Each of these candidates exudes confidence in clinching the seat for their respective parties, but the people in the constituency have the final say.
In the 2020 election, the NPP’s presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo garnered 61,908 (87.08%), whiles Mr. John Dramani Mahama, the NDC candidate secured 8,961 (12.52%) votes.
Prof. Nyarko, the incumbent MP widened the parliamentary seat margin to 61,772 (87.49%) votes for the NPP, whiles his contender, Mr. Assibey had 8,464 (12.02%) for the NDC.
Prof Nyarko, who is a member of the academia following several years of teaching at the University of Ghana, Legon, has promised to focus his attention on the promotion of quality education, skills and personal development to give the people, especially the youth the knowledge and competencies to create employment for themselves.
Speaking to the GNA on the night of December 2020, when he was declared the winner of the constituency parliamentary elections, Prof. Nyarko, promised to break the “one term MP” tag on the Kwadaso constituency.
True to his words, he has been able to achieve a lot to earn him a second term as MP for the area, since Kwadaso is a safe area for the NPP.
GNA