The parliamentary primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would take place in nine constituencies in Western Region.

The nine constituencies in Western Region holding the primaries are, Takoradi constituency, Sekondi, Shama, Essikado-Ketan, Ahanta West, Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Effia, Kwesimintsim, and Mpohor constituency.

Out of the nine constituencies where the elections are currently taken place, only Shama and Ahanta West constituencies have previously been picked up by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2008 and 2012 respectively.

But, they were again wrestled by the NPP from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2016 elections.

The rest of the seven remaining constituencies have always been the traditional seats of the NPP, aside the boycott of the first Parliament in 1992.

The NDC, although has tasted most of the seats including Sekondi and Takoradi, this was done only in 1992 when the NPP boycotted parliament.

In the case of Effia and Kwesimintsim constituencies, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) under the leadership of Lawyer Nana Abakah, tasted the seat when the two constituencies were together in 1992, and 1996 under the Great Alliance with the NPP.

It was however taken over by the NPP under the leadership of Joe Baidoo Ansah in 2000, 2004, 2008.

In 2012, the constituency was then divided into two, therefore making way for the creation of the Effia and Kwesimintsim seats concurrently. The NPP still maintained the grip of these two seats.

For Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency, and Mpohor, the NPP has always been very strong and commanded the seats.

The NDC, tasted the Ahanta West seat through the instrumental leadership of the late George Aboagye, but quickly lost the seat again to the NPP.

Although the NDC has been forceful in challenging the NPP to claim most of these seats mentioned, all attempts have always been fruitless during the electioneering period.

But the 2024 polls would present another opportunity for the two leading parties to battle for these seats traditionally known to belong to the NPP.

The outcome of today’s primaries and the candidates being selected would definitely have an impact on the outcome of the parliamentary primaries in the aforementioned constituencies.

For instance, in the case of Essikado- Ketan, where the incumbent Member of Parliament, Lawyer Joe Ghartey, would be exiting, the battle for his replacement would definitely determine the outcome of the December polls especially when the incumbent MP himself escaped narrowly by the skin of his teeth in the 2020 general elections which even ended up in court, though favored him at last.

In the Essikado-Ketan, the number of candidates who are vying to lead the constituency are all new, and any one of them who emerges in today’s polls would have to face Professor. Grace Ayensu-Danquah.

She is the NDC parliamentary candidate who contested the seat in 2020 and has once again been selected by her party as its parliamentary candidate in 2024.

The medical practitioner, lecturer, and university don has already marketed herself in the constituency and has accordingly carved a niche for herself and the NDC in the peri-urban constituency which was carved out of Sekondi in 2004 and has since remained in the bosom of the NPP.

Her message of hope appears to have already resonated with the constituents, aside the strong showing she put up in 2020, therefore, any candidate elected by the NPP would definitely encounter a true showdown with the NDC firebrand.

In summary, Essikado-Ketan constituency is going to be the most exciting constituency to watch in today’s crucial primaries and ultimately in the December polls.

By: Zambaga Rufai Saminu | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana