ELECTION FEVER GRIPS WESTERN REGION (PAGE 17)

Since the election of their flag bearers, the political parties, especially the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have been frequenting the Western Region with their political messages, promises and their manifestos to convince people in the region to vote for them.
The Western Region has 22 constituencies, out of which NPP has 12, NDC, eight with the Convention People’s Party (CPP) having two.
For this year’s December election a total of 90 candidates filed their nominations to contest the elections in the Western Region. The NDC is contesting in all the 22 constituencies, NPP 21, CPP 21, the People’s National Convention (PNC) eight, the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) two, the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and the Great Consolidated People’s Party (GCPP) two, with eight people contesting as independent parliamentary candidates.
In the Ahanta West constituency, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), a 56 year old Agriculturist, Samuel Johnfiah, is the candidate for NPP while a 52-year old trader, Madam Comfort Amoo, is standing for the DFP, with David Oscar Yawson a 31-year old Geo-information Scientist is contesting on the ticket of the CPP, with a 44-year-old teacher Mr Joseph Jones Amoah is standing for the NDC.
In the 2004 elections, Samuel Johnfiah won the seat for the NPP by securing 22,615 votes, while Joseph Jones Amoah, who stood for the NDC, got 7,345 votes which is an indication that the NPP has the chance to retain the seat in this year’s election, all things being equal.
In the Amenfi Central, a 39-year old Public Servant, Padmore Kofi Yonkopa Arthur, is contesting on the ticket of the NPP, while a 51-year old marine engineer, Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah, is standing as an independent candidate, with a 38- year old accountant, James Boateng, contesting for the CPP, and a 39-year old teacher, George Kofi Arthur is running on the ticket of the NDC.
In the 2004 elections, Kofi Arthur stood for the NDC and won the parliamentary seat with 14,139 votes, while Peter Kwakye Ackah, now going independent, stood for the NPP and secured 14,004 votes. Now that Kwakye-Ackah has decided to go independent, maybe the NPP votes would split in favour of the NDC.
For this year’s election, a 57-year old teacher, Mrs Agnes Sonful, is contesting on the ticket of the NPP in the Amenfi West, while a 49-year old teacher, John Gyetuah, the incumbent, is running for the NDC, with a 61-year old trainer/consultant, Anthony Kwame Enimil, contesting for the CPP.
In the previous election, John Gyetuah secured 15,233 votes to win the seat for the NDC, while Agnes Sonful got 13,108 votes for the NPP. The margin is such that the NPP would have to intensify its campaign in the constituency, if it wants to overtake the NDC.
For Amenfi East, a 51-year old lecturer, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the incumbent NPP MP is contesting for the party, while a 50-year-old system/electrical engineer, Samuel Yaw Obeng-Damoah, is running for the CPP, with a 51-year old Management Consultant, Akwasi Opong Fosu is contesting for the NDC.
In the 2004 election, Joseph Boahen Aidoo polled 23,937 votes to win the seat for the NPP, Osei Kuffour Omooyey, who stood for the NDC, polled 12,370 votes. The situation is such that the NPP stands the chance of retaining the seat, if things work the same way as they worked in the previous election.
A 54-year old teacher, Samuel Adu-Gyamfi, is running for the NPP in the Aowin constituency while a 27-year old self-employed Ebenezer Ebbi Kwaw Dankwa is contesting for the PNC, and Martin Boadi, a 29-year-old accountant, contesting for the CPP, with Mathias Kwame Ntow, a 51-year-old teacher, running for the NDC.
In Aowin, in the 2004 election, Samuel Adu-Gyamfi polled 22,059 votes to win the seat for the NPP, as against 16,358 votes secured by John Kwekucher Ackah who stood for the NDC. This indicates that the NPP has the advantage and that the NDC has to do its home work well.
For Bia, a 32-year old Lawyer, Anthony Marshall Arpoh is contesting on the ticket of the NPP, while Michael Coffie Boampong, 46 the incumbent is running for the NDC, with Kwaku Affukaah, a 51-year-old timber merchant going independent, while Philemon Armah, 33, a teacher, is running for the CPP. Augustine Duku, 34, an engineer, is standing for the DFP, with Alex Ackah Korsah, 46, a teacher, contesting for the DPP.
In the 2004 election, Michael Coffie Boampong won massively for the NDC by polling 36,014 votes, as against the 17,607 votes Anthony Marshall Arpoh got for the NPP. In this case the NPP had a herculean task in the constituency.
A 45-year-old administrator the incumbent Christopher Addae, is contesting the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai seat on the ticket of NPP, while a 55-year-old economist, Seidu Paakuna Adamu, is running for the NDC, with Gyasi Newlove, 36-year-old teacher, standing for the CPP and Alice Philipa Gyamfi, a 45-years-old stenographer, running for the DFP.
Chistopher Addae polled 24,333 votes in the 2004 election to win the seat for the NPP, while Seidu Paakuna Adamu got 22,370 votes for the NDC. The situation is such that the race is still open.
In Effia Kwesimintsim, Joe Baidoe Ansah the current MP 44, and a communications professional, is contesting on the ticket of the NPP, while a 53-year old legal practitioner Joseph Abekah is running for the CPP, with Barnabas Impraim, 43, an electrician, standing for the PNC, while Ambrose Sessah Ankrah, 43 and a maritime administrator, is contesting for the NDC. A 39-year-old wood technician, Innocent Asamoah, is contesting for the GCPP, while Philip Buckman, 35 is going as an independent candidate.
Joe Baidoe-Ansah won massively for the NPP in the 2004 election by polling 36,936 votes, as against the 13,660 polled by George Kweku Christian, who stood for the NDC. So it is clear that the NPP still has the chance to win the seat.
For Ellembele, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, 42 an administrator, is contesting for the NDC, while Maxwell Amuah Essien, 30, and also an administrator, is running as an independent candidate, with a 56-year old Barrister Freddie Blay contesting for the CPP. Kodwoe Yankson, 52, a lawyer, and a 30-year-old TV producer, Mathias Boateng, are contesting as independent candidates.
Freddie Blay won convincingly in the 2004 election when he polled 18,428 votes, as against the 11,322 votes Kaku Korsah got for the NDC. This means that the CPP has advantage to retain the seat.
In Essikado/Ketan, a 60-year-old accounts clerk, John Eghan, is running for the CPP, while Victor Henry Abbey-Hart, 44 and an accountant is contesting for the NDC, with a 55-year-old agriculturist, Emmanuel Victor Grayham standing for the PNC, while Joe Ghartey, 47 a lawyer, is contesting for the NPP.
Joe Ghartey polled 24,078 votes in the 2004 elections to win massively for the NPP, while David Mensah, who stood for the NDC, got 8,976 votes. So one can conclude that the constituency is a no go area for the NDC.
Catherine Abelema Afeku, a 41-year-old communications professional, is contesting the Evalue Gwira seat for the NPP, while Peter Arde-Kodwo, 56 and a lecturer, is standing for the NDC, with a 63-year old lawyer, Kojo Armah, contesting for the CPP.
In the 2004 election, Kojo Armah polled 10,377 votes to win the seat for the CPP, since the NPP did not put a candidate to contest the seat. The NDC got 6,150 votes. Now that the NPP is contesting the seat, the likelihood that the occupancy of the seat will change is very clear.
A 64-year-old scientist, Lee Ocran the incumbent is contesting the Jomoro seat, while a new entrant, a 48-year old educationist and journalist, Samia Yaba Christina Nkrumah, is running for the CPP, with a 34-year-old educationist and also a journalist, Martin Nyameke Ackah, standing for the NPP, while Jemaima Soboe, 41 and a hairdresser, is contesting for the PNC.
In the 2004 election, Lee Ocran polled 16,490 votes to win the seat for the NDC, as against the 14,835 Anthony Ransford Tandoh won for the NPP. The NPP has the chance to make amends.
In the Juaboso Constituency, a 34-year-old administrator, Ahi John, is running for the NPP, while a 36-year old businessman Boadi Francis is standing for the CPP, with a 41-year-old farmer Ayagibah Isaac is contesting for the PNC and Samson Ahi, a 36-year-old businessman the incumbent is running for the NDC.
In the 2004 election, Sampson Ahi polled 33,411 votes to win the seat for the NDC, while Francis Assuah polled 15,935 votes for the NPP. The difference, as well as the fact that the NPP had never won in the constituency, is a clear indication that NDC will continue to dominate the area.
For the Mpohor Wassa East, a 50-year-old consultant, Mary Ankomah, is contesting on the ticket of the CPP, while a 56-year-old journalist, Anthony Evans Amoah, the current MP running for the NPP, with Anthony Bassaw, 56 a lecturer is contesting for the NDC.
In the 2008 election, Anthony Evans Amoah polled 19, 635 to win the seat for the NPP, as against the 10,691 Mary Ankomah for the CPP. The wide margin gives the NPP the advantage to retain the seat only if it will do its homework very well.
Albert Kwaku Obbin, 52 and a teacher, is running for the Prestea Huni Valley seat on the ticket of the NPP, while a 51-year-old lawyer, Mubashir Taminu Dari, is contesting for the CPP, with Francis Adu-Blay Koffie standing for the NDC. Edwin Asare, 22 and an electrician, is contesting for the DPP, while Charles Kojo Adu-Fordjour, a 30-year-old civil engineer, is running for the DFP, with Osei Kuffour Omooyey, 51 and a farmer, contesting as an independent candidate.
Albert Kwaku Obbin polled 23,852 votes in the 2004 election to win the seat for the NPP, while an independent candidate, Samuel Plange Kaye, got 16,441 votes. With the wide margin the scale is likely to tip in favour of the NPP.
A 36-year old accounts officer, Appiah-Kubi Baidoo, is contesting the Akontombra seat on the ticket of the NPP, while Herod Cobbina, 52 and a farmer, is running on the NDC ticket, with Kwaku Duah, 33, a farmer, standing for the DFP.
Herod Cobbina polled 14,477 votes in the 2004 election to win the seat, for NDC, with Appiah-Kubi Baidoo polling 10,060 votes for the NPP. The NPP will have to work extra hard, if it wants to take the seat but it is likely that the NDC will also work hard to retain it.
In Sefwi Wiawso, Kwaku Afriyie (Dr), 54 a consultant, is contesting for the NPP, while a 50-year old teacher, Evans Paul Aidoo, is running for the NDC, with Kingsley Sarfo-Nyamekye, 51 a businessman, running for the CPP.
In the previous election, Evans Paul Aidoo got 26,095 votes to win the seat for the NDC, while Kwaku Afriyie (Dr) polled 16,855 votes for the NPP. The big difference in the votes indicates that the NDC is likely to retain the seat, unless the NPP works extra hard.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah 50, a Lawyer is contesting for the Sekondi seat on the ticket of the NPP, while Frederick Akor Larbi, a 45-year-old accountant, is running for the PNC, with Betty Bosumtwi-Sam, 42 a teacher, is standing on the ticket of the NDC. Mrs Hildergard Krakue, 43, and a secretary, is running for the CPP, while a 46-year-old businessman Oliver Peter Vanderpuye-Orgle is contesting for the DFP.
In the 2004 election, Papa Owusu Ankomah polled 17,433 votes to win the seat for the NPP, as against the 8,086 votes Betty Bosumtwi-Sam got for the NDC, which shows clearly that the NPP will retain the seat unless the NDC works extra hard.
Gabriel Kodwo Essilfie, 58, a chartered accountant, is contesting the Shama seat on the ticket of the NDC, while a 54-year-old educationist, Angelina Baiden Amissah, is running for the NPP, with Francis Nana Akorligah M. Kwofie, 37 a farmer is standing for the PNC. A 31-year old Agriculturist, Francis Ainoo is running for the CPP, while Francis Sekum, 60 and a ship-wright contesting for the GCPP.
Angelina Baiden Amissah got 14,782 votes in the 2004 election to win the seat for the NPP, as against the 9,067 polled by Emelia Arthur for the National Reform Party (NRP). Since the NRP did not contest, the NDC will replace it but has to work very hard to take seat but still it will be a herculean task for the NDC to take over from the NPP.
For Suaman, a 24-year old student, Daniel Tetteh, is standing for the PNC, while a 36-year-old purchasing clerk, Affum Sylvester, is running for the CPP, with Eric Theophilus Tandoh, 36, a proprietor, contesting for the NPP, while a 58-year old teacher, S.M.E.K Ackah, is standing for the NDC.
In the 2004 election, Ackah Stephen Michael Essuah polled 6,931 votes to win the seat for the NDC, as against the 5,063 Prof Kojo Kwarteng got for the NPP. It is likely that the NDC will protect the seat unless the NPP works hard.
In Takoradi, a 42-year-old, Godwill Abaka, is running for the seat as an independent candidate, while a 51- year old educationist, Kobina Prah Annan, is contesting for the NDC, with Eustace Kwesi Gyakyi Haizel, 44, a legal practitioner running for the CPP, while a 34-year old Bio-chemist and a development Consultant, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah is contesting for the NPP.
Mrs Gladys Asmah polled 25,714 votes in the 2004 election to win the seat for the NPP, as against the 7,894 for Esther Lily Nkansah of the NDC. The very wide margin, coupled with the fact that the NPP has retained the seat since 1996 is a clear indication that the NPP will retain it in this election, despite the change in the candidature.
For Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Gifty Eugenia Kusi (Mrs) 50, a Social Scientist is contesting for the NPP, while a 55-year old teacher, Christina Kobinah (Mrs), is running for the NDC, with a 44-year old Lawyer, Yaw Anokye Frimpong, running for the CPP.
In the 2004 election, Gifty Eugenia Kusi polled 32,154 votes to win the seat for the NPP, as against the 14,506 Solomon Kwabena Amoah got for the NDC, and it is likely that the NPP will retain the seat as a result of the vast difference.