The Kumawu ”Invasion”

All guns are blazing through to Kumawu in the Ashanti region where a fiercely-contested parliamentary bye-election is to be staged on May 23. Traditionally an NPP seat, the uncertainties around the election this time around have forced the Vice-President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to make a presence in the constituency as a slip by the governing party will certainly shrink its size to become the minority in parliament.

It is a dead heat in Ghana’s parliamentary equation and a setback for the NPP in the Kumawu parliamentary tussle could almost look like handing the executioner’s weapon to the opposition NDC.

There are rumors former President John Dramani Mahama may soon hit grounds to canvass for the NDC’s candidate. What a testing ground for their political capabilities and presidential ambitions!

The NDC claims to have the very latest development projects in the Kumawu constituency despite the seat in the ”perennial possession” of the NPP. The party’s attention is going there as an indigene member, the highly-rated Kwabena Duffuor had his son contesting the internal primaries but losing narrowly to the eventual winner Akwasi Amankwaah.

Akwasi Amankwaah hails from Bodomase just like the NPP’s candidate Ernest Anim. Two other contestants, all by the name Kwaku Duah come from Bodomase and Kumawu, one of whom battled the deceased MP Phillip Basoah.

Retention of the seat by the NPP will mean a resolute and resilient backing for the party in one of the most trying times for Ghana and a displacement of the NPP or even an increased haul of votes by the opposition NDC could only mean a surge that must be a worry to the incumbent government.