Underdevelopment, our common enemy - Oti Bless declares after fourth term Parliamentary victory

The re-elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkwanta-North, John Oti Kwabena Bless, has declared that job creation, road infrastructure, human capital development and provision of potable water will be his top priorities for the next four years as the representative of the people. 

He added that underdevelopment was the common enemy for all residents of Nkwanta-North, for which reason they must leave behind all differences and work for the collective good of the district.

In an interview with Graphic Online shortly after the Electoral Commission (EC) declared him winner of the Nkwanta-North Parliamentary elections on December 8, Mr Bless said he would justify the confidence reposed in him by the electorate by going all out to address the challenges confronting them.

"I want to use this opportunity to thank the people of Nkwanta-North for having confidence in me for the past 12 years and for renewing my mandate for another four years.”

"I will not take your mandate for granted; so I will work hard to ensure that we collectively tackle the development challenges we face, especially in the area of road network, water, jobs for the youth and education," he said. 

Election results

Mr Bless won the Nkwanta-North Parliamentary seat for the fourth time after the EC's certified results saw him poll 25,197 votes to beat his closest contender, Benjamin Munyum Nador of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who managed 22,679 votes.

The other contestants, Gabriel Kwabena Donkor of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) and Oduro Aikens Kofi Yeboah settled for 114 votes and 65 votes respectively.

Mr Bless first won the seat in 2012 by beating the NPP's Joseph Kwaku Nayan who had held it for two terms (2004 and 2008).

In 2020, the NPP candidate Benjamin Munyum Nador, gave Mr Bless a run for his money and closed the over 8,000 votes gap to just over 1,600.

Moderation

The atmosphere at the Kpassa Senior High Technical School (KPASTECH) Dining Hall, which served as the collation centre, was charged as supporters of the NDC sang, chanted and danced to victory songs.

The MP urged the supporters to exercise restraint in the celebration of his electoral victory.

"This victory is a victory for all people of Nkwanta-North irrespective of their political colours. It is not a victory for Oti Bless but for all of us. While you celebrate, do not tease or insult others who you think are not in your political party.”

"Elections are over and we need to work together for the development of Nkwanta-North," he said.