The Assin North constituency by-election scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, will go down as one of the landmark elections in Ghana’s history.
The constituency finds itself at the center of an intense political showdown as two formidable candidates compete for the highly sought-after parliamentary seat.
The clash between these political titans — the opposition NDC’s James Gyakye Quayson and governing NPP’s Charles Opoku — has captured the attention of the entire nation.
Over the weekend, both the NPP and NDC bigwigs were in the constituency to rally behind their candidates.
Both parties have embarked on vigorous campaigns, crisscrossing the constituency to connect with voters at the grassroots level. Town hall meetings, rallies, and door-to-door canvassing have become daily occurrences, in the constituency.
The campaign teams were led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Dramani Mahama.
Although the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) has a candidate in the person of Bernice Enyonam Sefenu, it is obviously a two-horse race between the NDC’s Quayson and the NPP’s Charles Opoku going by their parties’ appeal in the constituency.
As the campaign gains momentum, the question on everyone’s mind is: Who will emerge victorious in the battle for the Assin North seat?
The Assin North seat has been historically contested, with past elections often characterized by narrow margins.
In one corner stands the deposed Member of Parliament (MP) and political heavyweight, James Quayson, with a truckload of legal hurdles behind him. He has seen the confines of every courtroom because of his dual citizenship case.
Not perturbed by his criminal case the deposed MP is confident of his chances of winning, looking at the numerous developmental projects he has spearheaded.
On the other hand, is the new entrant Charles Opoku who beat his contender with an impressive 397 votes, to secure his chances of rubbing shoulders with NDC’s James Quayson.
Opoku, 40, an indigene of Assin Bereku, is an electrical engineer at a private mining company in Tarkwa.
Although a new entrant, Mr. Opoku is said to have been instrumental in Assin North politics over the years and was a member of TESCON at the Cape Coast Technical University during his university days.
Within this short period, the NPP parliamentary aspirant has quickly garnered significant support among the constituency’s youth with fast-track projects.
Residents in Assin North who have been struck with various developmental projects are seemingly divided on who to vote for.
Both candidates also share some similarities that haven’t made things easy for the electorates.
The two main candidates, Quayson and Opoku, are both generous and philanthropic. They have both supported the less privileged in the communities, and both expect the beneficiaries of their generosity to reciprocate their philanthropic gestures with votes.
Both candidates are also residents of Assin Bereku. Assin Bereku is the constituency’s capital town and holds a huge percentage of the electorate. Selecting an indigene from Assin Bereku certainly enhances the chances of a candidate winning.
But, the electorates are not the only ones yet to take a strong stance or make a prediction. Political analysts and pundits who have closely monitored the Assin North constituency say James is likely to get sympathy votes. Others are convinced the NPP candidate will emerge victorious in Tuesday’s by-election.
Renowned pollster, Ben Ephson, says although the election is a tight race, the determining factors favor the New Patriotic Party.
He explained that the NDC candidate, James Quayson won the 2020 parliamentary elections largely because of his place of origin Assin Bereku. But now both candidates hail from the same town.
Party bigwigs have also made their predictions. But regardless of who wins, the outcome will not only determine the future of local governance in Assin North but may also send ripples through the national political landscape.
The NDC stands to lose a seat in Parliament and the NPP may win another in their favor or vice versa.
Whether the deposed MP can maintain his stronghold or if the new entrant Charles Opoku can cause an upset, only time will tell.
One thing is certain, the future of Assin North and Ghana’s parliament hangs in the balance.