AGONA EAST “NE KORAAKORAA NE SEN”ELECTIONS
Given that, the country’s Parliament is split, with each party fielding one hundred and thirty-seven representatives, the December 2nd orphan constituency elections of the New Patriotic Party in Agona East, promises to be a crucial test ahead of 2024. Particularly when the NPP party has lost the parliamentary seat to the NDC on three consecutive occasions, rippling in effect on yesterday’s happenings in parliament where the majority purposefully abandons their own budget due to numerical strength of order 133.
It’s clear that politics in Ghana has become a costly endeavor. A survey by Ghana’s Center for Democratic Development indicated that winning the presidential elections in Ghana would most likely require spending at least $100 million. Voters are now asking for payments in order to cast a ballot, and most of this money is going toward campaigns and voter enticement. In the instance of parliamentary elections with comparatively smaller voter turnout, this narrative becomes even direr. Grammar, polite language, kindness, and strong messages alone won’t be enough to win the Agona East constituency parliamentary elections.
The delegates’ posture and body language will make it abundantly evident to you after your lengthy discussion that Ntsi ne koraakoraa ne sen? At that point, prospective candidates would start looking through their deep pockets and handbags for Sisiala Adapaa. A candidate can easily lose by a significant margin if they are unable to contribute a sizeable sum of money.
There is enough scholarly prominence confirming democracy as an expensive adventure and the best systemic option we have as a country to practice. We can certainly not play politics without money, but a situation where money is superimposed over every other factor in our body politics is heavily problematic. Delegates request huge sums of money and later regret decisions made in the supposed interest of the masses, common sense is mostly sacrificed at the altar of greed and personal interest. As a result, Agona East (NPP) has severe injuries that take time to heal before the party runs in the general elections. Whilst other constituencies are quick to resolve, the ‘easterners’ of Agona have difficulty healing from minor surgeries of a kind.
There are serious concerns about how and why the NPP party could win three straight presidential elections while simultaneously losing a parliamentary seat. It cannot be that all three candidates were not appealing to the electoral masses. The enemy is surely from within.
In a similar vein, why would the NPP present a new face for parliament every four years, knowing very well that the only time they won the Agona East seat was when their candidate was repeated in the 2000 and 2004 elections? Aaawell!!! Perhaps, they have peculiar motives.
My dear NPP delegates, breaking the eight and twelve in the context of Agona East parliamentary elections is not “Ne koraakoraa ne sen” cocoa season. In harvesting, be cautious of the impending injuries that will occur to be able to unite strongly for a common goal in 2024.
Omankyeame
…..observer from the EAST…..
