The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, says that the results that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had in the just-ended by-election in Ejisu, a by-election the NDC stayed away from, clearly show that the governing party is on its way into opposition.
He observed that the NPP’s votes in Ejisu dropped in the by-election, compared to the results they garnered in previous elections.
“It clearly shows NPP are on their way out of office,…this is not a victory for them. This is tantamount to defeat and that is why they can’t even celebrate this victory,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, May 4.
Also making a similar point, a Former General Secretary of the NPP who has crossed the carpet to support independent presidential candidate Alan Kyerematen, said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo must realize that the NPP is going down following the results of the just-ended by-elections.
He said that the results of the by-election in Ejisu, a stronghold of the NPP, is an indication of how the NPP is losing control in its strongholds across the country.
In his view, the results of the by-election are a microcosm of a bigger picture to come in the general elections on December 7.
He says the voters have stated clearly that they will decide who represents them in parliament, not the leadership of the party.
“The Ejisu by-election makes a very strong statement about what people within communities, people who are represented by elected officials think right now. The statement is being made forcefully that we in this community, this is the person we believe represents our best interest.
“NPP did win, yes, I take Ejisu as the microcosm of what is reverberating in the entire country, especially in the NPP stronghold, the will of the people as against party big shots,” he said on the same show.
He added “The president should realize that the party is going down, if it has not gone down. Alan is a citizen of Ejisu, so Ejisu in particular is going to be very interesting in the general elections.”
For his part, a member of the communications team of the NPP who is also a private legal practitioner, Kinglsey Amoakwa-Boadu stated that the NPP has learned its lessons from the by-election in Ejisu.
He says that the party has taken steps to reconcile all disgruntled members to ensure that their votes come to the party in the general elections.
“I was of no doubt that the NPP would take the seat. Mr Aduomi had been an MP for three terms, 12 years of engagement, and deputy minister of roads, so definitely he will have his footprints there.
“The take-home after this election is there have to be several acts of reconciliation. If we are able to get some of those who voted for him good, if we manage to get him to come back, it is even good.
“The presidential election is 50 percent plus one, so there is more to be done because every vote counts, we would not take anything for granted. We are working at it,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, May 4.
The NPP candidate in the by-election held in the Ejisu Constituency has won the contest.
He beat five other candidates to emerge winner.
They are; Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, an independent candidate with NPP antecedents, Convention People’s Party Esther Osei, Liberal Party of Ghana’s Beatrice Boakye, Freduah Agyemang Joseph and Attakorah Joseph both independent candidates.
According to the results declared by the Electoral Commission, Kwabena Boateng secured 55.79% of the total votes cast against his main contender, Kwabena Aduomi’s 43.24%
This is according to results collated from all 204 polling stations. Kwabena Boateng polled 27,782 votes whereas Kwabena Aduomi had 21,536.
A total of 49,780 out of the expected 100,000 voters turned out.
The bye-election was necessitated by the demise of the incumbent MP, Dr John Kumah. Dr Kumah died in March after a short illness.
Source: 3news.com
