He is your Kwaku Duah: Wontumi disowns 'spoiler' independent candidate

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi has disclaimed a candidate that was widely-rumoured as having been sponsored to scuttle the chances of a leading independent aspirant in the May 23 Kumawu Constituency by-election.

In an analysis of the by-election which was won by the New Patriotic Party, Wontumi observed that spoilt ballots accounted for 132 votes as against 60 votes by Kwaku Duah No. 2.

Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana host, Paul Adom-Otchere, keying into the rumour referred to the aspirant as Wontumi’s candidate, which designation the Ashanti Regional NPP chairman repelled pinning it on the journalist.

Below is their brief interaction:

Paul: So, spoilt ballots has done better than your Kwaku Duah?

Wontumi: He is your Kwaku Duah.

Paul: Where is he?

Wontumi: I have to ask you.

The two Kwaku Duah’s on the ballot paper

The two independent candidates in the election had the same name, Kwaku Duah. The main Kwaku Duah, had contested and placed second during the 2020 elections and his insistence on running despite appeals against doing so meant the NPP needed to find ways to split his 10,000 plus votes in 2020.

This is what many believe led to the alleged sponsorship of another Kwaku Duah, who happens to be the nephew of the first aspirant.



Ernest Yaw Anim of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has emerged winner of the May 23 by-election in the Kumawu Consutituency of the Ashanti Region.

He polled 71% of total votes cast to retain the seat for the ruling party. In a distant second was the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate who garnered only 17% of votes.

The formal declaration of Anim as Member of Parliament-elect was by the Constituency Returning Officer for Kumawu, Paul Agyemang:

His declaration went as follows: “Ernest Yaw Anim representing the NPP obtained a total of 15,264, Akwasi Amakwaa of the NDC polled 3,783; Kwaku Duah No. 3 obtained 2,4478, Kwaku Duah No. 4 obtained 62 votes.

“Total valid votes cast stood at 21,527. Total rejected ballots 204. Total votes cast 21,731.

“And now, by the power vested in me Paul Agyemang as the Constituency Returning Officer for Kumawu, I hereby declare you, Ernest Yaw Anim of the NPP as the Member of Parliament=elect for the Kumawu Constituency.”

SUMMARY OF MAJOR FIGURE FROM THE POLL

1. Ernest Yaw Anim (NPP) 15264 = 70.91%

2. Kwasi Amankwaa (NDC) 3723 = 17.29%

3. Kwaku Duah (IND) 2478 = 11.51%

4. Kwaku Duah (IND) 62 = 0.29%

Total Registered Voters = 34,790

Total vVotes Cast = 21,731

Valid Votes = 21,527 (62.45%)

Rejected Votes = 204

The Kumawu by-election

Voters went to the polls to elect a new Member of Parliament to replace the late Philip Atta Basoah, who died on 27th March this year while still serving his 3rd consecutive term.

The NPP fielded Ernest Yaw Anim, whiles Kwasi Amankwaa was the NDC candidate. The other two aspirants are independent candidates with the same name, Kwaku Duah.

Kumawu prior to today was a beehive of political activity with big wigs from the NDC and NPP holding rallies in the constituency to canvass for votes for the vacant seat.



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