This year’s elections pulled surprises and upsets as big wigs of the ruling party, New Patriotic Party (NPP), who suffered shocking defeat.
They include the Minister of Communications and Member of Parliament of Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, who lost to the National Democratic candidate, Reverend Kweku Addo.
While the NDC candidate won the parliamentary election with 31,866 votes Mrs Owusu-Ekuful trailed with 26,575 votes.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, was defeated by the NDC candidate, Blay Nyameke Armah.
Mr Egyapa Mercer polled 11,084 votes, representing 42.94 per cent of the total valid votes, while Mr Armah garnered 14,558 votes, representing 56.40 per cent of the votes.
Interior Minister and Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central, Henry Quartey was defeated by the NDC candidate, Abdul Rauf Tubazu.
While Mr Quartey garnered 23,309 of the votes casted, Mr Tubazu got 29,965 of valid votes cast.
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, George Mireku Duker, lost to Sheikh Issah Salifu Taylor of the NDC.
Sheikh Taylor garnered 35,906 votes, representing 47.11 per cent, to unseat the incumbent NPP MP, Mr Duker who obtained 27,404 votes, translating to 35.96 per cent of the votes.
The others include one of the longest serving MPs and Minister of Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, who lost to the NDC candidate, Godwin Animli Dorgbadzi-Dorani.
Mr Hammond polled 13,275, while Mr Dorgbadzi-Dorani got 14,229 votes.
Sylvester Tetteh of Bortiano Ngleshie Amanfrom lost to NDC’s Okle Felix Akwetey, while Mr Okle got 37,473, Mr Tetteh had 27,888.
The NPP MP of Mfantseman Constituency, Ophelia Mensah Hayford, lost to Prince Ebenezer Arhin of the NDC who had 35,832 against 23,349 votes won by Madam Hayford.
The Minister of Railway Development, John Peter Amewu, lost the Hohoe seat to the NDC’s Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo.
Actor John Dumelo of the NDC unseated Lydia Seyram Alhassan in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, while in the Dormaa East, Twum Barima of the NPP lost narrowly to Rachel Owusua of the NDC, who polled 12,310 votes against Barima’s 12,050.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Abu Jinapor also lost his seat, while the Minister of Health, Bernard Okoe-Boye could not snatch the Ledzokuku Constituency seat from the incumbent NDC MP, Benjamin Nartey Ayiku. Mr Ambrose Dery also lost his Nandom seat.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
