Bice ‘Obour’ Osei Kuffour, Managing Director of Ghana Post and former President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and aspiring NPP parliamentary candidate for Asante Akyem South has issued a warning that the New Patriotic party faces a potential loss of the parliamentary seat if the candidate is not changed for the 2024 General Elections.
In a recent disclosure, Obour expressed concern over a drastic reduction in the party’s votes for the parliamentary candidate, emphasizing the need for a new face and vision to bolster support in the constituency.
Describing the situation as “scary,” Obour asserted that assuming the mantle as the parliamentary candidate could potentially increase the party’s vote by an additional 10,000, benefitting both the presidential and parliamentary candidates.
Obour highlighted the decline in NPP votes since 2012, pointing out that while the NPP added a mere 690 votes over 4 years, the NDC significantly increased its votes by about 6,000 in the same timeframe.
“In 2020, NPP’s parliamentary vote increased from 32,526 to 33,200, adding only 690 votes over four years. Meanwhile, the NDC went from 15,000 to 21,639 votes for the parliamentary candidate during the same period,” he explained.
Expressing concern about the NPP losing ground in what has traditionally been an NPP stronghold, Obour urged party leaders to take note of the declining numbers in Asante Akyem South.
In an interview on Nhyira FM, Obour called upon delegates to carefully consider their decision in voting, emphasizing the importance of electing a candidate capable of increasing the party’s votes and fostering development in the constituency
The urgency of the situation underscores the need for swift action and strategic decision-making within the party.
Meanwhile, Bice Obour has denied the publication that some current campaign Coordinators of his, have defected to the Incumbent MPs camp by describing it as false and an attempt by the Incumbent MP to deceive delegates.
According to him, those individuals were past coordinators who are no longer delegates and have allegedly been bought by the Incumbent MP to embark on a propaganda agenda against him (Obour).
Obour further explained that “My passion and love for the Asante Akyem Constituency would not permit me to rest until I, through the help of the King Makers, the delegates give me the needed push to lead them to increase our Parliamentary votes and Presidential fortunes.
He explained that “I am not availing myself for the office just for the sake of it, but get the opportunity to serve my people and also work hard to help our great Party, the New Patriotic Party rewrite the Political history of Ghana becoming the first political party to win three times in a roll, the popular Breaking the eight”.
He noted that the New Patriotic Party has been losing votes compared to the National Democratic Congress in the constituency, which is worrying as the party approaches the crucial 2024 election, hence the reason to contest and increase the margin of the vote for the NPP. He said, “The NPP made a loss of 5.3% in vote percentage whereas the NDC made a gain of 6.7% in vote percentage.
He added that he has plans to provide skills training and lobby for developmental projects using his extensive networks, adding that ‘’ As a leader, he believes in the importance of advocating for strategic projects and representing the concerns of constituents in Parliament’’.
Mr. Bice Obour Osei Kuffour, who in the last NPP Parliamentary Primaries contested but lost by a narrow margin of 58 votes to the sitting MP in 2020 said it is time to wrestle the seat from the incumbent MP who has held the position for three successive terms but has little to show for those 12 years representing the constituency.
He stressed, “Breaking the Eight” is not just a slogan but an attainable goal we have set for ourselves as a political party, and I am committed to working very hard to make it happen. It will be a great history to be a part of, and I am leaving no stone unturned to help achieve that”.
He emphasized the importance of selecting the right candidates who can increase votes both in the Parliamentary and Presidential elections.
He further pleaded with the delegates who play a crucial role in the party’s fortunes, to vote massively for him to lead the constituency into the 2024 battle, in which the NPP would surely be victorious
“Asante Akyem South must contribute massively in votes to breaking the eight, and for that to happen, we will need a vibrant, hard-working unifier to do that and I Bice Obour Osei Kuffour that person. With me as the captain of the Asante Akyem Seat, we would proudly add up to our votes and not decrease in votes as we are currently experiencing” he added.
