All set for Assin North by-election: NPP’s Charles Opoku poised for victory
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Charles Opoku is poised for victory in Tuesday’s Assin North parliamentary by-election.
Indications are that, the NPP has penetrated the communities with their message of hope, which has been buoyed by the popularity and goodwill Opoku enjoys in the constituency. He is widely seen as an honest, hardworking, and philanthropic person.
Tough for NDC
On the flip side, the National Democratic Congress ( NDC) appears to have found it tough selling their candidate, James Gyakye Quayson to the electorate.
Gyakye Quayson is attempting a comeback after the Supreme Court annulled his 2020 victory. The Apex Court ruled that he was not qualified at the time he filed to contest the 2020 election since he held dual citizenship at that time.
2020 results
In the 2020 parliamentary election, Gyakye Quayson won with 17,498 votes representing 55.21 per cent of the valid votes cast while the NPP’s Abena Durowaa Mensah garnered 14,193 votes representing 44.79 percent.
For the presidential election, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo polled 16,067 votes representing 50.81 percent of valid votes cast while John Dramani Mahama had 15,014 votes representing 47.48 percent.
The NPP attributed their defeat in the parliamentary election to internal developments that affected their candidate.
NPP campaign
A strong election machine led by national, regional and constituency executives of the NPP have been on the ground canvassing for votes for their candidate.
General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye supported by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, have been leading the onslaught.
Occasionally, they have been supported by some ministers of state and Members of Parliament (MPs) as well as flag bearer aspirants of the party. The strategy the party deployed in the Kumawu by-election had come into play in Assin North and there is high optimism of victory for Opoku.
Opoku’s benevolence
Opoku’s penetration into the NDC camp manifested when he visited the family of the NDC member who died in a car accident on her way to a campaign activity.
He donated GH¢ 5,000 to the family and pledged to purchase the coffin for the burial ceremony. In addition, he promised to support the deceased’s children. Following that, the family head congratulated him and asked the constituents to vote for him, explaining that the NPP candidate showed that unity is important.
Bawumia’ s campaign
Last week , the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia also visited the constituency to whip up support for Mr Opoku. He commissioned the 31.2 kilometre Assin Fosu to Assin Praso road, as well as an astroturf in the constituency.
