The New Patriotic Party appears to be losing key members, many of whom have declared their intentions to contest as independent candidates, ahead of the highly-anticipated general elections in December.

Given the importance of the election, political parties are expected to field their strongest candidates for the parliamentary elections, to avoid losing ground to their opponents.

However, that does not seem to be the case for the ruling NPP.

With barely 4 months to the elections, the party has lost two of its incumbent Members of Parliament, both of whom have declared to run as independents.

The following are the two NPP MPs who intend to contest as independent candidates for the parliamentary elections in December

1. Cynthia Morrison

The Member of Parliament for Agona West on the ticket of the NPP declared on August 22, 2024, her intention to contest the Agona seat as an independent candidate.

Cynthia Morrison, who lost the NPP parliamentary primaries, held on April 13, 2024, to her opponent, Christopher Arthur, cited the development needs of her constituency as the key factor in her decision.

The former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, won her elections in 2016 and was re-elected for a second four-year term in the 2020 elections, garnered 30,513 votes out of a total of 59,193 valid votes cast.

Interacting with her constituents, she said “God willing, I would be contesting the parliamentary election as an independent candidate. It is not about the NDC, and it is not about the NPP. It is about the development of Agona.

“I don’t care whether you vote for former President John Dramani Mahama or Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. But the most important thing is for you to vote massively for Cynthia Morrison so I can come and complete the work I started,” she added.

2. Oboafo Kwadwo Asante

The incumbent Member of Parliament for Suhum constituency is rumoured to contest the December polls as an independent candidate after he lost the party’s primaries to Frank Asiedu Bekoe.

A campaign poster popped up in the Suhum Municipality displaying the name and inscription of Kwadwo Asante as an independent candidate.

The MP hasn’t officially declared, but sources close to him, said they are receiving calls from market women and other stakeholders to contest as an Independent Candidate.

Suhum is traditionally a stronghold of the NPP, and Asante’s independent bid could complicate the party’s chances in the pending elections.

Meanwhile, Kofi Tonto, an aide to NPP presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has disclosed that efforts are underway to bring Asante back into the party’s fold.

“We do have a small challenge in Suhum because the current MP, who lost the primary to Protozoa, wants to contest as an independent.

“Discussions are ongoing to bring him back to the fold. Honourable Bryan Acheampong is leading that charge to work with him to bring him back. I think we’ve made great gains in terms of engagement with him, and we hope that he will come on board to solidify our base as we move forward,” Tonto added.

Additionally, Bryan Acheampong, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, has also quelled the rumours.

Though Kwadjo Asante did not make an appearance at any of the engagements during Dr Bawumia’s visitation to Suhum, Bryan Acheampong said he met with Oboafo Kwadjo Asante, who had promised that he was not contesting as an independent candidate.

There has been no official statement from the Suhum MP yet regarding the ongoing speculation about his parliamentary candidacy, as the election approaches.

MAG/AE