Amewu, Tsekpo in close contest for Hohoe seat

Incumbent John Peter Amewu and Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are neck and neck in a fierce race for the Hohoe seat on December 7.

From all indications, the race will be very keen between the parliamentary candidates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the NDC.

Interestingly, the variables make it even more crucial than what transpired in 2020. It is anyone’s guess who will be the lucky Hohoe Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) in the Ninth Parliament.

In the past seven elections, Hohoe has peacefully transferred the parliamentary seat between the two main political parties just once in 2020. All this while, the people had allowed the NDC candidates to serve them, while extending the same compliment to the party, except the 2020 elections.

The area had always been regarded as NDC’s “World Bank”.

However, the NPP, represented by the then Minister of Energy, John Peter Amewu, took the constituency by storm in 2020, when he polled 26,952 votes to become the first NPP MP. He has since vowed not to be a one-term MP.

He defeated the then-NDC candidate, Dr Margaret Kweku, who had 21,821 votes.

Considering the voting trend in Hohoe, the big question now is whether the electorate will change their mind and bring back the NDC or they will maintain the status quo.

It is significant to note that four candidates are contesting in this year’s parliamentary poll, though only two stand a chance of winning. The other two candidates are Stephen Adzraku of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and Madam Esther Amevor, representing the National Democratic Party (NDP).

As the D-day approaches, all the candidates have been busy crisscrossing the constituency to trumpet their messages of hope to convince the electorate. The parliamentary candidates of both the NPP and the NDC have put their aces on the table. 

Presidential results

In the 2020 presidential election, former President John Mahama of NDC garnered 33,517, representing 69.36 per cent of the total votes, while NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo had 14,389 (29.78 per cent).

That was an interesting twist of the previous election in 2016, which saw John Mahama polling 35,117 votes (82.54 per cent) as against Nana Akufo-Addo’s paltry 6,869 votes, representing (16.14 per cent). 

Projects

Mr Amewu has had a FIFA standard Astroturf pitch commissioned, a girls model Santa Esther Senior High School established as a boarding institution in 2021 at Wli, some kilometres of asphalt roads, a telecommunications network improved, renovated some school buildings, provided scholarship schemes for the people, installed street lights throughout the constituency, expanded the Hohoe market and lobbied for the Regional Hospital to be sited in Hohoe, among others.

Since the emergence of Mr Amewu, politics in Hohoe has become very vibrant and aggressive. Through his efforts, Hohoe has seen a massive provision of social amenities and infrastructural facilities in the past four years.

For instance, the FIFA standard Astroturf sports stadium, according to Mr Amewu, was to allow the youth to harness their potential and also open up the area for income-generating activities. 

With the Ewe slogan, “Emenyanya”, meaning inside knowing and signifying, “we have done it before and we can do it again”, Mr Amewu called on all to come out in their numbers to vote massively for number one as their MP and Dr Bawumia as the President.

The sitting MP has also donated starter kits and financial support to 150 apprentices at their graduation ceremony and sought employment for 300 youth, among others.

On the other hand, Mr Tsekpo’s clinic, which he refurbished with added staff quarters, was to see to the health needs of the people. Apart from this, Tsekpo has also added to the 37 boreholes under his “water for life project”, donated starter kits to 30 apprentices, constructed roads for farmers and built three bridges, among others. 

Impressions

Ms Rita Batsa, a Hohoe-based businesswoman, said from 1992 to 2020 when the NDC was dominant, there was no change in the area and the lives of the people, but for the four years that Mr Amewu and the NPP government entered the race, things had changed.

She emphasised that Mr Amewu’s emphasis was on human development and, in that vein, had touched every aspect of life to such an extent that he was on the lips of everyone.

Another native, Philip Bentil, a banker, also said he was surprised that the NDC, for the first time, had opted for the door-to-door campaign strategy. Mr Bentil said that had not been so over the years as anyone who qualified through the NDC primaries was easily considered as an MP without sweat.

“But with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and John Peter Amewu in the race, there is competition and this is the assurance of a massive victory in the forthcoming elections,” he said. 

NDC candidate

Mr Tsekpo believed that the NDC would win the seat as their findings had revealed that the NPP’s popularity had dropped by 40 per cent.

He said the NDC had also corrected the mistakes of the past, which enabled the NPP to penetrate and were ready to take the seat again just as they dominated from 1992 to 2020. 

Preparations

Regarding voting trends, ethnic considerations will not play a significant role in how they are going to vote. Thus, the five traditional areas, namely Gbi, Alavanyo, Fodome, Gbledi and Wli, will likely vote for who they trust can best manage the constituency’s affairs.

The race is too close to call and anything can happen between now and December 7.

The Hohoe Municipal Director of the Electoral Commission, Enoch Danso-Agyekum, said everything was ready for the exercise.

Mr Danso-Agyekum said they had received all the election materials, which had been deposited at a designated location for safekeeping.

He said the Hohoe Constituency had a population of 70,644, with 17 electoral areas and 147 polling stations.

Mr Danso-Agyekum said 79 flash spots had been identified, which would require extra vigilance to ensure a smooth process.  

He revealed that 725 election officers had been trained to take charge of the elections and was happy that since 1992 there had not been any disturbances in the conduct of elections in the municipality.