Losing Ejisu seat would be ‘nail in the coffin’ for NPP in 2024 elections – UG professor

Professor Kobby Mensah, a Political Marketing Strategist at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), has stated that losing the April 30, 2024, Ejisu by-election could spell disaster for the governing party in the 2024 general elections.

Speaking in an interview on TV3 on April 29, Prof Kobby Mensah drew attention to contests such as the Fomena parliamentary elections and subsequent by-elections at Kumawu and Assin North, which, he contends, hold crucial lessons for the NPP.

He explained that key among these lessons is the party's struggle to secure victory in traditional strongholds, exemplified by the narrow win in Kumawu amidst allegations of vote-buying and the defeat at Fomena to an independent candidate despite President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's plea for support.

He emphasized that a loss for the NPP in the Ejisu contest would have implications.

“Two by-elections were hardly fought, and they lost one and won one. Fomena, the president was there and spoke about the idea that they don’t want an independent candidate, yet he won against the party’s choice.

"What is happening in Ejisu is similar. If they lose this particular Ejisu election to the independent candidate, it portends badly for them.

“Losing it will be a nail in the coffin and not only swinging the command in parliament... it has a wider implication about their dwindling opportunities to win the (2024) election.

"They do not want to send that signal to either their base or the general public,” 3news.com quoted him to have said.

About the Ejisu by-election

The Electoral Commission (EC) announced that six aspirants had been cleared to contest in the by-election.

The vote will elect a parliamentary candidate for the Ejisu Constituency following the demise of the incumbent, John Kumah, on March 7, 2024.

The NPP is represented by Kwabena Boateng. Former MP Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, who is running as an independent candidate has also entered the race.

Others include Beatrice Boakye, representing the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has Esther Osei as its candidate, and independent candidates Gabriel Agyemang Joseph and Joseph Attakora complete the list.

Meanwhile, the largest opposition party, the NDC, did not field a candidate for the by-election.

Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, the former NPP MP is expected to give his former party a run for their money.

AM/SARA

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