The governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, Ernest Yaw Anim, has secured a resounding victory in the Kumawu by-election held yesterday in the Ashanti Region. Preliminary results, yet to be certified, indicate that Mr. Yaw Anim has garnered over 15,264 votes, allowing him to maintain the seat for the NPP. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Kwasi Amankwaa, has secured 3,569 votes, while the two independent candidates, Kwaku Duah and the other bearing a similar identity, have polled 2,459 and 60 votes respectively.
This by-election holds significance due to historical antecedents. In the 2020 elections, the NPP expressed concern over the independent candidacy of Kwaku Duah, who nearly caused an upset for the party. Duah, a former District Chief Executive (DCE), fell out with the NPP and emerged as the second-highest vote-getter with 11,698 votes, representing 39.96% of the total valid votes cast. The late Philip Basoah, the NPP’s candidate at the time, secured 14,960 votes, representing 51.11% of the votes. The NDC’s candidate, Bernard Opoku Marfo, came third with 2,439 votes (8.33%), and Nana Amoako of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) obtained 174 votes (0.59%).
During the presidential race in 2020, President Akufo-Addo emerged victorious with 23,502 votes (80.69% of the valid votes cast), while John Mahama of the NDC secured 5,325 votes (18.28%).
Yesterday’s by-election was necessitated by the unfortunate passing of MP Philip Basoah on March 27, 2023, leaving a vacant parliamentary seat. Security measures were heightened across the constituency to ensure law and order during the voting process. The Ghana Police Service, in collaboration with other stakeholders, deployed an adequate number of personnel to guarantee the safety and security of voters, election officials, and the general public.
All participating political parties, including the NPP, NDC, and independent candidates, campaigned vigorously over the past weeks, outlining their visions for the constituency’s development. Reports indicate that election officials worked diligently to ensure a smooth and efficient voting process, upholding transparency, integrity, and fairness throughout the by-election.
The newly elected MP, Mr. Yaw Anim, brings a wealth of experience to his role. He previously served as a senior Accountant at Vanguard Properties Development, Ghana, and held various positions within the company. With a strong educational background in economics and finance, Mr. Anim has a Masters of Financial Economics and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Cape Coast. He is also a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
