Gabby Otchere-Darko, Ofosu Kwakye clash over Ketu South and new voter register

Influential cousin of President Akufo-Addo, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has incurred the wrath of opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, Felix Ofosu Kwakye for questioning the basis for which Ketu South Constituency in the Volta Region is the most populous constituency in the country in terms of names on the current voter roll.

Gabby, a very vocal member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), in two separate tweets on his social media account has sought to cause a discussion on how the NDC stronghold holds the number one position of the most populous constituency in the current voter roll based on socio-economic factors.

“Out of Ghana’s 275 constituencies, Ketu South is the most populous constituency in Ghana in terms of the number of names on the electoral role. Why and How? Discuss...... Ketu South constituency has 149, 219 registered voters. Dome Kwabenya follows with 144, 624 registered voters, with Ledzokuku, 142, 995 and the Ablekuma Central, 137, 154. Discuss the economic and/or social activities which give Ketu South the largest electoral roll in Ghana.” He posted on Twitter.

The question by the NPP member whose party has openly declared support for the compilation of a new voter register received a lot of backlash from other tweeps who seemed sympathetic the opposition NDC – one of the political parties to have kicked against the idea of a new voter register for the December polls.

Out of Ghana’s 275 constituencies, Ketu South is the most populous constituency in Ghana in terms of the number of names on the electoral role. Why and How? Discuss...

— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) May 25, 2020

“Ketu South constituency has 149, 219 registered voters. Dome Kwabenya follows with 144, 624 registered voters, with Ledzokuku, 142, 995 and the Ablekuma Central, 137, 154.”
Discuss the economic and/or social activities which give Ketu South the largest electoral roll in Ghana.

— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) May 25, 2020

Former Deputy Information Minister under the erstwhile John Mahama administration described the tweet as ethnocentric.

Mr. Kwakye questioned whether Gabby would rather have Kyebi, the hometown of President Akufo-Addo as the most populous constituency on the nations voter roll.

“This is ethnocentrism of the most undesirable kind. The exact reason why Ketu South shouldn’t be the most populous is what? You would rather Kyebi was the most populous?” He wrote.

This is ethnocentrism of the most undesirable kind.The exact reason why Ketu South shouldn’t be the most populous is what?You would rather Kyebi was the most populous? https://t.co/s2CrNVqALk

— Felix Kwakye Ofosu (@FelixKwakyeOfo1) May 25, 2020