GhanaWeb Feature: Nimatu Yakubu Atouyese

In the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, the political drama is heating up as Lydia Alhassan and John Dumelo prepare for an epic showdown this December.

This will be their second time locking horns in the parliamentary elections in the constituency.

With just four months left until the presidential and parliamentary elections, candidates are rolling up their sleeves and hitting the campaign trail.

Incumbent Members of Parliament are fighting hard to keep their seats, while ambitious contenders also eye those same seats with determination.

As the election fever rises, Ghanaweb kicks off its series on the most fiercely-contested constituencies, starting with Ayawaso West Wuogon.

In the red corner, we have John Dumelo, the charismatic actor turned politician representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

And in the blue corner, we have the incumbent, Lydia Seyram Alhassan of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

John Dumelo:

On July 19, 2019, John Dumelo grabbed a nomination form to join the NDC primaries.

Fast forward to August 24, 2019, he emerged victorious, becoming the NDC parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon for the 2020 elections.

Despite a valiant effort, he lost narrowly to Lydia Alhassan, who polled 39,851 votes to his 37,778.

John Dumelo, born on February 3, 1984, to John Dumelo and Antoinette Dumelo, is a man of many talents.

He started his education at Christ the King School in Accra, moved on to Achimota Senior High School, and then pursued civil engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

He’s married to Gifty Mawunya Nkornu, and they have a son, John Dumelo Jr., born on October 16, 2018.

In 2024, Dumelo added a Master's Degree in Law (Natural Resources) from the University of Ghana Law School to his academic achievements.

He also earned a second master's degree from GIMPA in July 2022.

Dumelo's political journey began in 2016, where he became a key figure in the NDC's campaign, eventually being appointed as Director of Operations for a pro-NDC youth group by former President John Dramani Mahama.

Lydia Alhassan:

In 2019, Lydia Alhassan stepped into her late husband Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko's shoes as the MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon after his sudden death.

She won the by-election on January 31, 2019, and then secured re-election in the 2020 parliamentary elections, despite strong competition from John Dumelo.

After her re-election, Lydia Alhassan was appointed Deputy Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, a significant role considering she had only been an MP for two years.

On January 26, 2024, she was acclaimed as the NPP parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, running unopposed after Samuel Owusu Amankwa, her potential challenger, was disqualified.

Her dedication and hard work also earned her a spot in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's cabinet as the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources during a reshuffle on February 14, 2024.

Lydia Alhassan, a seasoned entrepreneur, founded Lymens Medical Supplies Limited, a pharmaceutical company, at the age of 24.

She served as Vice Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Importers and Wholesalers Association of Ghana and was an executive member of the Chamber of Pharmacy Ghana.

Academically, she holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of Ghana Business School and a Bachelor's degree in Administration from GIMPA.

With both candidates bringing their A-game, Ayawaso West Wuogon is set for an electrifying election season.

But when all is said and done, who will emerge victorious as the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon for the 9th Parliament of Ghana, beginning January 7, 2025?