Can NPP snatch Ketu North seat from NDC?
A wind of change seems to be blowing in the Ketu North Constituency in the Volta Region.
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As a hotspot for elections in the region, there is also the threat of ‘skirt and blouse’ voting against the incumbent Member of Parliament, Mr James Klutse Avedzi.
The constituency has been a fierce battle ground for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) because it is one area the NPP has been able to pull a lot of elections.
Surprisingly, some NDC party faithful, due to apathy, are openly campaigning for the NPP candidate, Mr Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, a former Volta Regional Minister under President Kufuor’s administration, to the detriment of their own candidate though they still prefer President John Dramani Mahama at the presidency.
Dzamesi’s soaring popularity
The popularity of the “unopposed” Dzamesi who is back for the third time to contest the seat is said to be soaring in the constituency, especially the capital Dzodze where he hails from with his promises to implement policies that will better the lives of the people, especially rice growers and also building ultra modern markets for the four traditional areas in the district.
The situation is gradually becoming a worry for some supporters of the NDC with one confessing to this reporter, ‘The NPP has a strong candidate who can disturb us in this election.’
In 2008, Mr Dzamesi garnered close to 11,000 votes, making the constituency a very fertile area for the NPP, however, the votes of the party dropped to 8,153 with Pius Enam Nadzide as the candidate in 2012.
Ketu North loves Dzamesi but hates his party
Mr Dzamesi has always had the charisma and in 2008, people had thought he could make it to Parliament. However, as it is known, their bond with the NDC is stronger, which always paved way for their candidates to win parliamentary seats.
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For instance,during the 2008 election, voters who loved, Mr Dzamesi but hated his party had frankly told him in Ewe, ‘Kofi edzea gbagba na mi loo gake atiglinyi party si me ne ge do eya koe de fu nami,’ meaning, ‘Kofi you have tried for us but unfortunately, you belong to the elephant party.’
Those who spoke to the Daily Graphic during an opinion poll at Dzodze over their choice of candidate said they needed change but preferred their own, referring to Mr Dzamesi to take over from Mr Avedzi, a native of Wheta who was contested by three other candidates during the NDC primary.
‘We are not voting for Dzamesi because of his party but because of his personality,’ one interviewee said.
Unshakable NDC team
The NDC candidate, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, on the other hand, seems not to be perturbed by the noise ongoing in the constituency. He is not leaving any stone unturned in his bid to maintain the seat.
At his campaign launch during the NDC primary, Mr Avedzi said the constituency had seen much transformation in his 12 year-tenure, including the connection of over 150 villages to the national grid, building of over 80 classrooms, provision of potable water for many communities, construction of roads and offering over 3,000 scholarships to needy, brilliant students.
Supporters unwaveringly hold on to a slogan, ‘Avedzi Akoe,’ meaning ‘Avedzi is the obvious choice,’ emphasising that Mr Dzamesi will try but will still lose the election.
Campaign of the two candidates
On the ground, supporters of the two main contenders have gone the extra mile to exhibit their love for their candidates with the display of their posters on their vehicles, motor bikes and kiosks.
Two other candidates from the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Madam Gbedjeh Leberty Cynthia, and the All People’s Congress (APC), Mr Nyadey Dennis Sedinam, were also seen putting in great effort to make an impact in the election.
The Ketu North Constituency will indeed provide one of the interesting contests in this election.