GhanaWeb Feature by Nimatu Yakubu Atouyese

Ghana’s parliamentary history is full of intriguing patterns.

There have been a few unique ways, such as by-elections, and government appointments, among others that have led to candidates becoming MPs.

However, nothing is as unique as the voting behavior in the Ledzokuku constituency.

Since 1996, no parliamentary candidate from either of the major political parties has served more than one term.

The voters of Ledzokuku seem determined to keep their representatives on a short leash, ensuring fresh faces at the start of each new parliamentary term.

Here’s a breakdown of the trend, as put together by GhanaWeb:

In 1992, Nii Adjei-Boye Sekan of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) represented the people of Ledzokuku, continuing into 1996.

However, starting from 1996, no MP has been re-elected to serve a second term.

In 2000, Eddie Akita of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) won the seat but later lost the primaries to Gladys Nortey Ashitey.

Gladys Nortey Ashitey represented the NPP in 2004 but lost her seat to the NDC's Nii Nortey Duah in 2008.

Nii Nortey Duah served until 2012, when he was defeated in the primaries by Benita Sena Okity-Duah, who also served only one term.

Benita Sena Okity-Duah then handed over to the NPP’s Bernard Okoe-Boye, who represented the constituency for a single term, beginning in 2016, before losing the seat to the NDC's Benjamin Narteh Ayiku, the current MP.

However, history may soon change.

For the first time since 1996, the NPP has decided to retain its parliamentary candidate to contest the pending general elections, with the NDC has also retaining its incumbent MP to contest the election for the second time since 1992.

If either of them wins, it will mark the first time in nearly three decades that a candidate has served more than one term at Ledzokuku.

TWI NEWS