101 first-time MPs to enter Ghana’s next parliament
After a significant number of incumbent legislators lost their seats, Ghana’s eighth legislature will welcome 101 new faces as replacements.
In 2017, 126 new faces entered the House.
Parliament’s high attrition rate has been a concern to parliamentary experts who believe the situation affects lawmaking.
“So I do not think that necessarily at the end of every four years we should have elections to open the slews gate to allow anybody to come in to contest,” the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said of the situation in a recent interview.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said in his view, established democracy everywhere in the world was guided and guarded, saying that “it is not unfettered anywhere.”
He said for one to be an effective lawmaker, “you need to be tutored in governance and come up through the ranks of political governance.”
After 28 years, the Nadowli-Kaleo constituency has got a new MP.
This was after its ‘Mugabe’ in the person of Alban Bagbin stepped down and did not contest the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries for the 2020 elections.
Anthony Mwinkaara Sumah is now the MP-elect for the Nadowli-Kaleo constituency. He won on the ticket of the NDC.
Mr. Sumah is one of the fresh faces to enter Ghana’s eighth parliament.
Other notable names among the fresh entrants are John Peter Amewu who took the Hohoe seat from the NDC. Francis-Xavier Sosu and Dakoa Newman also join the list of first-time MPs.
In the just-ended December general elections, the opposition NDC won more seats compared to what they had in 2016 though they failed to secure the majority of the seats in parliament.
Official figures from the Electoral Commission show that the NPP won 137 seats while the NDC gained the same number of seats. There is one independent candidate who has declared his intention to join the NPP, a party which withdrew his membership when he went independent ahead of the 2020 elections.
Below is the list of first-time MPs to enter Ghana’s eighth parliament according to regions:
Volta Region
- John Peter Amewu – Hohoe (NPP)
- Abla Dzifa Gomashie – Ketu South (NDC)
- Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe – Keta (NDC)
- Kwame Sefe – Anlo (NDC)
Bono Region
- Williams Okofo Darteh – Jaman South (NDC)
- Frederick Yaw Ahenkwa – Jaman North (NDC)
- Sulemana Adama – Tain (NDC)
- Haruna Seidu – Wenchi (NDC)
- Dormaa East – Paul Twum Barimah (NPP)
Ashanti Region
- Francis Asenso-Boakye – Bantama (NPP)
- George Kwabena Obeng Takyi – Manso Nkwanta (NPP)
- Adelaide Ntim – Nsuta Kwaman Beposo (NPP)
- Akwasi Darko Boateng – Bosome Freho (NPP)
- Stephen Amoah – Nhyiaeso (NPP)
- Abdul Salam Adams – New Edubiase (NDC)
- Kingsley Nyarko – Kwadaso (NPP)
- Alex Blankson – Akrofuom (NPP)
- Vincent Ekow Asafua – Old Tafo (NPP)
- Isaac Yaw Opoku – Offinso South (NPP)
- Collins Adomako-Mensah – Afigya Kwabre North (NPP)
- Akwasi Konadu – Manhyia North (NPP)
- Kofi Amankwaa Manu – Atwima Kwanwoma (NPP)
- John Ampontuah Kumah – Ejisu (NPP)
Northern Region
- Daniel Nsala Wakpal – Kpandai (NDC)
- Abukari Dawuni – Wulensi (NDC)
- Farouk Aliu Mahama – Yendi (NPP)
- Thomas Mbomba – Tatale (NPP)
- Alhassan Tampuli – Gushegu (NPP)
- Mohammed Aminu Anta – Karaga (NPP)
- Abdul Aziz Ayaba – Mion (NPP)
- Hamza Adam – Kumbungu (NDC)
- Abdulai Jacob Iddriss – Savelugu (NDC)
Bono East Region
- Joseph Kumah – Kintampo North (NDC)
- Gyan Alexander – Kintampo South (NPP)
- Joseph Kwasi Mensah – Nkoranza North (NDC)
- Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare – Techiman North (NDC)
- Techiman South: Martin Adjei Korsah (NPP)
Upper East Region
- Abdulai Abanga – Binduri (NPP)
- Lydia Adakurugu -Tempane (NDC)
- Sampson Chiragia – Navrongo (NDC)
- Thomas Dalu – Chiana-Paga (NDC)
Upper West Region
- Peter Lanchene Tuobu – Wa West (NDC)
- Godfred Seidu Jasaw – Wa East (NDC)
- Anthony Mwinkaara Sumah – Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency (NDC)
- Cletus Seidu Dapilah – Jirapa (NDC)
- Amidu Chinnia Issahaku – Sissala East (NPP)
- Mohammed Adama Sikparu – Sissala West (NDC)
- Bright Baligi – Lambusie (NPP)
- Bede Ziedeng – Lawra (NDC)
Western Region
- John Sanie – Mpohor (NPP)
- Dr Prince Hamid Armah – Kwesimintsim (NPP)
- Robert Wisdom Cudjoe – Prestea-Huni-Valley (NDC)
- Darcos Affo-Toffey – Jomoro (NDC)
- Arko Nokoe – Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira (NDC)
- Nicholas Amankwah – Amenfi East (NDC)
Western North
- Alfred Obeng Boateng – Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai (NPP)
- Joseph Betino – Suaman (NDC)
- Oscar Ofori Larbi – Aowin (NDC)
Greater Accra Region
- Abdul Latif Dan – Ablekuma Central (NDC)
- Sheila Bartels – Ablekuma North (NPP)
- Adamu Ramadan – Adentan (NDC)
- Dickson Adomako-Kissi – Anya Sowutuom (NPP)
- SylvesterTetteh – Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro (NPP)
- Rita Naa Odorley Sowah – La Dadekotopon (NDC)
- Benjamin Ayiku Narteh – Ledzokuku (NDC)
- Francis Xavier Sosu – Madina (NDC)
- Theresa Lardi Awuni – Okaikwei North (NDC)
- Dakoa Newman – Okaikwei South (NPP)
- Isaac Ashai Odamtten – Tema Central (NDC)
- Akwesi Owusu Afrifa – Amasaman (NPP)
- Naa Momo Lartey – Krowor (NDC)
Eastern Region
- Nana Yaw Teddy Addy – Ayensuano (NDC)
- Frederick Obeng Adom – Adeiso Upper West Akyem (NPP)
- Alexander Akwasi Acquah – Akim Oda (NPP)
- Micheal Kofi Okyere Baafi – New Juaben South (NPP)
- Bismarck Nyarko Tetteh – Upper Manya Krobo (NDC)
- Albert Nyarkotey – Yilo Krobo (NDC)
- Davis Opoku Ansah – Mpraeso (NPP)
- Ahenkorah Marfo – Achiase (NPP)
- Charles Acheampong – Lower West Akim (NPP)
- Joseph Frimpong – Nkawkaw (NPP)
- Kwadwo Asante Boafo – Suhum (NPP)
- Henry Boakye Yiadom – Akwatia (NDC)
- Alexander Agyare – Kade (NPP)
Central Region
- Awutu Senya West – Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui (NDC)
- Daniel Ohene Darko – Upper Denkyira West (NDC)
- Alhaji Kobina Ghansah – Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa (NDC)
- Kwamina Minta Nyarku – Cape Coast North (NDC)
- Ophelia Hayford – Mfantseman (NPP)
- David Vondee – Twifo Atti Morkwa (NDC)
- Festus Awuah Kwofie – Upper Denkyira East (NPP)
Savannah Region
- Abu Jinapor – Damongo (NPP)
- Hajia Zuweira Ibrahim – Salaga South (NDC)
- Alhaji Mahama Asei Seini, Daboya-Mankarigu (NPP)
- Alhassan Abdulai Iddi Salaga North (NPP)
North-East Region
- Hajia Lariba Zuwera Abudu – Walewale (NPP)
- Mustapha Ussif – Yagaba Kubori (NPP)
- Abednego Bandim – Bunkpurugu (NDC)
- Alhaji Baba Seidu Issifu – Nalerigu Gambaga (NDC)
- Tahidu Abdul Razak – Chereponi (NPP)
- Oscar Liwaar – Yunyoo (NPP)