As at press time yesterday, December 8, 2020, the B&FT had tabulated 53 seats that changed hands between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). While the NPP lost 36 of its seats in the 7th Parliament of the Fourth Republic, the NDC gave away 17 of its seats.
NPP seats lost
For the NPP, the regions that recorded the biggest casualties were Central and Greater Accra – the two ceded seven seats each to the NDC. The seats are Asikuma Odoben Brokwa, which had Emmanuel Adjei Domson as its Member of Parliament (MP); the Assin South seat tha contested by Abena Durowaa Mensah was also lost to the NDC; the Deputy Minister of Communication, George Nenyi Kojo Andah of Awutu Senya, has lost his seat as well; Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, Barbara Asher Ayisi, was also a casualty; the MP for Ekumfi, Francis Kingsley A. Cudjoe, also lost the bid to retain his seat; Gomoa West’s Alexander K.K. Abban was not successful with his ambition; and Samuel Nsowah-Djan of Upper Denkyira West also lost.
In the Greater Accra Region, all the NPP MPs along the coastal belt lost bids to retain their seat for the party. La Dadekotopon’s Joseph Gerald Tetteh Nyanyofio; Ledzokuku’s Bernard Okoe-Boye, who is a Deputy Health Minister; and Elizebeth Afoley Quaye, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, have all bowed out.
One of the three constituencies in the Tema Community, Tema East – which was held by the Deputy Transport Minister, Daniel Nii K.T. Glover, has also fallen; just as the twin constituencies of Madina and Adenta held by Abubakar Saddique Boniface and Yaw Buaben Asamoah have left the NPP fold.
The Bono Region saw five seats of the NPP swinging to the NDC. They include Wenchi constituency held by Minister of Planning, George Gyan Boaffour; Dormaa West’s Ali Maiga Halidu; Jaman North’s Siaka Stevens; Jaman South’s Yaw Afful; and Tain constituency’s Gabriel Osei.
Bono East, Upper East, Upper West and Western Region all gave away three seats each. Bono East’s Kofi Amoakohene of Atebubu Amanteng; Deputy Defence Minister, Derek Oduro of Nkoranza North; and Charles Konadu-Yiadom of Nkoranza South lost their seats. In Upper East the Regional Minister, Tangoba Abayage lost the Navrongo seat; Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Joseph D. Kpemka lost the Timpane; and Adongo Frank Fuseini also lost the Zebila constituency.
For Upper West, the Deputy Minister of Road and Highways, Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, lost the Lawra constituency; while Salifu Naliwie Baluwie and Dari Daniel Kuusongoo lost the Sisala and Wa West constituencies respectively. For the Western Region, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, lost her Prestea Huni Valley seat; while Edward Amo-Acquah and Paul Essien lost the Amenfi East and Jomoro constituencies respectively.
Eastern and Ashanti lost two seats each: Ernest Kumi of Akwatia and Joseph Tetteh of Upper Manya Krobo both in the Eastern Region, while Philip Ofori-Asante of Fomena and George Boahen Oduro of New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region also lost.
The Northern and Oti Regions lost a seat each, they were Michael Yaw Gyato of Krachi East in the Oti Region and Abraham Binipadan Jawel of Saboba constituency in the Northern Region.
NDC seats lost
Northern Region topped the chart with four seats going to the NPP: Sualihu Dandaawa Alhassan of Karaga; Abdul-Aziz Mohammed of Mion; Simon Acheampong Tampi of Tatale-Sanguli and Alhassan Umar of Zabzugu will not return to parliament. The Savannah Region gave away three seats; Shaibu Mahama of Daboya-Mankarigu; Mutawakilu Adam of Damango and Alhassan Mumuni of Salaga North will also not return to the chamber.
Bono East, Eastern and Upper East Regions had two casualties each: Yaw Effah-Baafi of Kintampo South and Masawud Mohammed of Pru West, from Bono East; Thomas Ampem Nyarko of Asuogyaman and Derek Darko Ohene Assifo Bekoe of Upper West Akim in the Eastern Region, while Robert Baba Kuganab-Lem of Binduri and Laadi Ayii Ayamba of Pusiga, both of the Upper East Region, will not return to parliament.
The Upper West, Volta, North East and Greater Accra Regions had Edward Kaale-Ewola Dery of Lambussie; Prof. Margaret Kweku of Hohoe; Sagre Bambangi of Walewale; and Sedem Kweku Afenyo of Amasaman respectively losing their bids to reach parliament.
