Kwabena Boateng
LAWYER KWABENA Boateng has been elected as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the upcoming by-election in the Ejisu Constituency.
The sudden demise of the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu, John Kumah, who was also a Deputy Finance Minister, necessitated the polls, held on Saturday.
At the end of voting, Lawyer Boateng, who is the NPP Second Vice Chairman in Ejisu, secured a staggering 394 votes out of the 1,033 total valid votes cast, to win the polls.
He was followed in the second place by Helena Mensah, who managed 302 votes, followed by Yaa Akyawmaa Aboagye, who also garnered 229 votes to finish in the third position.
Dr. Evans Duah and ex-Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, who were tipped by political pundits to win the polls, had 63 and 35 votes, respectively.
Portia Acheampong Abronye had 6 votes, Aaron Prince Duah and Klinsman Karikari Mensa secured 2 votes each, followed by Abena Pokuaa Amoah-Boaitey who had no vote.
Wild Jubilations
There were wild jubilations at the collation centre after the Electoral Commission (EC), who supervised the virtually peaceful elections, declared Lawyer Boateng as the winner.
Scores of supporters of the newly-elected NPP parliamentary candidate for Ejisu Constituency were seen spraying white powder on Lawyer Boateng as a sign of victory.
Lawyer Boateng, in his victory address, thanked the NPP delegates for reposing their confidence in him by voting for him to lead the party in the by-election.
He described the victory as “a victory for the entire NPP in Ejisu Constituency,” and promised to lead a united party so the NPP can retain the late John Kumah’s seat in Parliament.
Kwesi Nyantakyi’s Sickness
Meanwhile, there was a scare when Kwesi Nyantakyi, one of the aspirants, was suddenly taken ill whilst campaigning in the constituency on Friday, just 24 hours before the polls.
Luckily, the former GFA president recovered on time as he was discharged from the hospital to visit some of the voting centres on Saturday, the day of elections.
Confirming his strange sickness, he told journalists that “I suddenly felt dizzy on Friday so I was rushed to a nearby hospital, where I was treated and discharged later on.”
Kwesi Nyantakyi, who was filled with emotions, started to tear up as he tried to explain his strange sickness. He was then whisked away by his supporters.
NDC In Limbo
In a related development, it looks likely that the main opposition political party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), will opt out of the Ejisu by-election.
According to reports, the party is divided with regards to contesting the by-election. Those against the idea of contesting the polls believe the NDC cannot win the seat.
They therefore see the party’s participation in the by-election as a waste of resources, stressing that the party should rather stay away and plan for the December 7 general elections.
Independent Candidate
Meanwhile, Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi, an ex-NPP MP for Ejisu Constituency, is said to be lacing his boots to contest the upcoming by-election as an independent candidate.
There are wild rumours that Owusu-Aduomi’s decision is influencing the NDC to stay away from the polls, since the NDC believe Aduomi can win the seat from the NPP.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi