- unpolished Wontumi scrapes through; Eastern Regional was reduced to Akyem-Kwahu contest
The weekend’s regional elections by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is showing President Nana Akufo-Addo and his family, are fast losing grip over the party, as most of the contestants they supported, especially in the two strongholds of Ashanti and Eastern Regions, lost.
Many, are projecting that by July, when the National Executives elections would be held, the President would lose every clout he has in the party and become a lame duck leader.
Ironically, while the President and his men are losing their influence in the party, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s influence is growing over that of his bitterest contender; Trade Minister, Alan Kwado Kreyemanten, whose candidate, including the former Member of Parliament for Ejisu, Owusu Aduomi lost in the Ashanti Region.
In the Eastern Region in particular, the chairmanship contest was reduced to an Akyem versus Kwahu fight, which Kwadwo Boateng Agyeman, an ethnic Akyem man lost to Jeffrey Konadu Addo, despite an overwhelming support from the Kyebi boys, including the visible presence of Gabby Asare-Otchere Darko nicked “The God”, a cousin to the President.
In the case of Eastern Region, Kwadwo Boateng Agyeman, had won the New Juaben North Constituency chairmanship contest but in three weeks was made to resign from the position to contest Jeffrey Konadu Addo.
At the end, Jeff Konadu Addo obtained a massive 424 votes against 202 for Kwadwo Boateng Agyeman.
The argument against Jeff Konadu Addo was there are lots Kwahu indigenes in the government or occupying influencial position in country, hence an Akyem man was needed to balance the equation.
The names of Kwahu provided were those of the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong is a Kwahu man, Paa Kofi Ansong, Eastern Regional rep on the Council of State, is also a Kwahu and the Special Prosecutor, the Director General of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), John Ofori-Tenkorang among others.
However, Jeff, described as an affable person got good numbers to thrush Kwadwo Boateng Agyeman.
Jeffrey Konadu Addo, after the victory indicated that he was heavily supported by Bryan Acheampong and Davis Ansah Opoku, popularly known as OPK.
The raucous Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Bosiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, made history by securing a third victory when he went past Odeneho Kwaku Appiah (COKA), his closest contender, to retain his position. He polled 464 votes against COKA’s 306 votes according the Electoral Commission.
Many are saying Chairman Wontumi, has nothing new to offer, and with the stiff competition he faced, from Constituency executives, and MPs from the region, he would be ruthless and meant to unite the party going to the 2024 general election. Other claims are that he spent lots of money to get the re-election position.
Chairman Wontumi first won the regional position in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018. Before this, he was the Constituency chairman for Bosomtwe.
COKA, had served as Constituency chairman for Afigya Kwabre South for close to 20 years.
Other contenders in the Ashanti Regional Chairmanship were, Asare Bediako who got 20 votes, Owusu Aduomi who got 9 votes and Oheneba Kofi Adum Bawuah who got votes.
The Greater Accra Region, also retained its chairman, Divine Otoo Agorhom.
Mr Agorhom, had 332 votes, while his contender; Alfred Boye, had 326. Meaning the incumbent escaped defeat by the skin of the teeth, winning by just six votes.
Other results for the Greater Accra Region:
1ST VICE
Joana Adda Frances
2ND VICE
1. Van Pee – 64
2. Francis Ebo Mensah -75
3. Jeffery Osei- 213
4. Eric Nartey – 268
SECRETARY
1. Odarlai Parker — 424
2. Emmanuel Clottey – 198
3. Solomon Assante -35
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Baba Seidu – 332
Ben Kwaku Asare – 327
TREASURER
Racheal Tutu 347
Francisca Anyorkor – 312
ORGANIZER
Prince Obeng – 543
Romeo Sarfo – 69
Nathaniel Bossah – 47
WOMEN ORGANIZER
Grace Acheampong – 340
Naana Eyeson – 12
Edem Atipoe – 267
Torshie Torto – 29
YOUTH ORGANIZER
MOSES ABOR -355
Isaac Asare – 37
Harriet Serwaah – 21
Kwame Apenteng – 241
Gabriel Anandiya – 5
NASARA COORDINATOR
Alhaji Ishaq – 162
Abdul Amid – 27
Mumin Abagje – 2
Hajj Tiicas – 74
Kamil Hussein – 82
Jeff Kassim – 311
The Volta Region, also retained the incumbent chairman, Makafui Woanya, when the party’s delegates met at the conference in Ho Technical University.
The conference which was scheduled to begin at 9:00am later began at 3:00pm, but enjoyed a smooth ride to the end.
The election saw several incumbent executives retain their seats, except the Women Organiser, Rejoice Afi Adzagbo, who was beaten by Hanna Ashiade.
Other results from the Volta Region are;
Nasara coordinator
1. Mudashiru Adebayo 116. Incumbent
2. Abdulai Kamilla 8
3. Abdulai Suala. 96
4. Zain 70
Youth Organizer
1. Israel Godsway 8
2. Destiny Bright Tettey 182. Incumbent
3. Siayor Maxson kwaku. 101
Women Organizer
1. Rejoice Afi Adzagbo. 125. Incumbent
2. Hanna Ashiade. 137
3. Mabel Amegbletor. 30
One rejected.
Organizer
1. Kosi Bodza. 207. Incumbent.
2. Christo Wisdom Dotse. 47
3. Kofi Agla 2
4. Shealta Adzololo 35
Two rejected
Treasurer
1. Wisdom Gakpo. 162. Incumbent
2. Josephine Selase Akusica. 129.
Assistant Secretary
1. Samuel Anku. 150. Incumbent
2. Patrick Etse. 40
3. Goerge Dogbe. 97
4. David Akabli. 3
One rejected.
Secretary
1. Pope Yao Yevu. 179
2. Dr. Prince Amuzu. 34
3. Enoch Amegbletor.. 74
4. Appeah Fenteng. 4
2nd Vice chairman
1. Roland k Fiakpui. 27.
2. Richard Kwadekpo. 85
3. Alan Kwesi Doga. 65
4. Dela klu. 114
1st Vice chairman
1. Ken Ayi. 222.
2. Joseph Wilberforce. 5
3. Abdulai Mohammed 64.
Chairman
1. Makafui Kofi Woanya – 188. Incumbent.
2. Avuletey Jonson 3
3. Joseph Homenya. 100
Rejected 3
Earlier on Friday, Mohammed Adam Bantima Samba, was re-elected as the NPP Northern Regional Chairman amid some agitations about the inclusion of some names of TESCON members who weren’t delegates.
The party’s regional executive election which took place on Friday, May 27, 2022, was not without drama as some six persons were arrested by police for engaging in suspicious activities at the conference venue, the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale.
“The eligibility of some persons were contested, and some of the names were taken out of the list of about 26, so in the end 16 TESCON members voted but so far, everything has ended and the place is calm,” she reported.
The incumbent Regional Chairman in the Upper East Region, Anthony Namoo, was also retained after beating five other contenders to secure the slot.
Anthony Namoo, polled 114 of the total votes cast. The Regional Chairman and the Women’s Organizer, Ayamba Georgina, are the only two candidates who were re-elected in the polls in the region.
In the Western Region, three incumbent regional executives were unsuccessful in their re-election bid at the just-ended polls on Saturday. They are the Regional Organizer, Abdul Ganiyu and Regional Women’s Organizer, Abena Kwallah both lost after the election.
Francis Ndede Siah, who ran unopposed, becomes the newly elected Western Regional Chairman of the NPP while Oketakyire Amankwa Afrifa, son of a former head of state, won the Secretary position on his third attempt.
As at the time of going to press, the Bono Regional was yet to vote.
But Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC incumbent facing what is thought to be a stiff competition, however, if the retention of some of NPP regional executives is anything to go by, then Chairman; Abronye DC who is also a communicator of the NPP, could also be retained.
In the case of the Central Regional delegates conference, It was put on hold after expected delegates of the Ekumfi Constituency took the impending Elections to court for allegedly side-lining the Constituency delegates from participating in the conference.
The Ekumfi Constituency has not held its executive election yet and according to some members of the party, going ahead with the regional delegates conference would mean depriving delegates in Ekumfi of their rights to vote, hence the action by the prospective delegates in Ekumfi.
A motion on notice for interlocutory injunction sighted by Citi News prayed the High court to restrain the defendants who are the Central Regional Chairman for the NPP, Robert Kutin among others from holding the Regional Elections of the NPP and “for transmission of any results to the National office of the party until the final determination of the suit.“
The case is expected to be heard on June 2, 2022.
