Parliament has affected my mental, physical health, I'll now mentor young aspirants - Andy Appiah-Kubi, defeated Asante Akim North NPP MP

The incumbent Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi who was unsuccessful in a re-election bid on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has decided to step away from partisan politics and declared his intention not to seek re-election in the future.

His explanation is that Parliament has taken a toll on his mental and physical health, and therefore, he was stepping away to concentrate on a better mental and physical health for himself and consider concentrating on mentoring young aspirants for leadership roles.

He made this known in an interview with Accra based Joy News on Dec 11, 2024 after an Agogo 'homeboy' independent candidate, Ohene Kwame Frimpong defeated him in last Saturday's Asante Akim North parliamentary election.

Frimpong, a businessman and media owner, triumphed with a wider margin of 26,926 votes, against Appiah-Kubi's 8,933 votes.

NPP's stronghold

The Asante Akim North area is a strong hold of the NPP and the party has held that seat since the 1996 parliamentary election.

The situation has been that, same as many other constituencies in the Ashanti Region, once a candidate wins the internal NPP election, the general election was a mere formality for that candidate to win.

In 1992, the NPP did not participate in the parliamentary elections in Ghana as a whole due to a boycott and therefore did not present candidates and so, Collins Agyarko Nti, on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won and represented the constituents.

From 1996 to 2008, the late Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, a former Local Government Minister who later became Finance Minister in President John Kufuor's era held the Asante Akim North seat with Agogo and Konongo as the main two towns serving as the base for the area.

When Kwadwo Baah Wiredu left the scene in 2008 due to sudden death, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi defeated Andy Appiah Kubi to take over on the ticket of the NPP. Andy had issues with qualification due to internal party wranglings. 

In 2012, a new constituency, Asante Akim Central with Konongo as the base was carved out of the Asante Akim North constituency with Agogo as the base and the incumbent Kwame Anyimadu Antwi moved to the new Asante Akim Central constituency.

This paved the way for a new entrant, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang who defeated Andy Appiah Kubi in 2012 and went to parliament on the ticket of the NPP.

In 2016 however, Andy Appiah Kubi came out strong and was able to defeat Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, got to Parliament and went ahead to win his second term in 2020.

In 2024, even though he secured the NPP's ticket, a new independent entrant, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, an Agogo 'homeboy' and a business man shocked Andy Appiah Akubi and snatched the seat from the grip of the NPP with a wide margin.

Stepping away

Speaking to Joy News in the interview monitored by Graphic Online, Andy Appiah Kubi cited the importance of prioritising his well-being as the main reason for deciding to step away after his current term ends on January 6, 2025. 

He indicated that his time in Parliament had severely affected his health and said the mental and physical strain of parliamentary life had become too much.

“It has taken a toll on my mental and physical health. The pressures of parliamentary life are immense, and I need to focus on recovering and finding peace,” he shared.

Reflecting on his political journey, Appiah-Kubi said the election results gave him a clear signal that it was time for a change.

Although he had served the New Patriotic Party (NPP) faithfully, he felt his role in active politics had come to an end. Mr Frimpong, who is also known as the owner of Salt FM, a popular local radio station, will now take on the responsibility of representing the constituents of Asante Akim North.

While stepping away from parliamentary politics, Appiah-Kubi said he is eager to continue serving the community in a different capacity.

He expressed a strong desire to mentor young politicians and individuals interested in leadership roles. He made it clear that his departure from Parliament does not signify an end to his commitment to public service.

“I now want to focus on mentoring the next generation of leaders who can serve with integrity and dedication,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of helping them navigate the complexities of public service, while also encouraging a better work-life balance, something he admitted was difficult to maintain during his time in Parliament.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh 

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