“It is a known fact that the Ashanti Region is the political world bank (base) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), ” former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman of the party, Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah (COKA) has observed.
He was analysing NPP’s chances in the 2024 election and how a running mate from Ashanti could brighten the party’s chances and cited the Ashanti Region as the party’s all-time stronghold since 1996.
“The region has served the NPP well. In fact, Ashanti region has been loyal to NPP over the years to the extent that it has become a target for our main competitor, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), ” he intimated, adding that even “in 1996 elections, NPP had 65.8% and NDC had 32.8%. NDC won. ln year 2000 elections, NPP had 74.8% and NDC had 22.5%. NPP won. In 2004 elections, NPP had 77% and NDC had 21.8%. NPP won. In the 2008 elections the NPP had 72.5% and NDC had 26%. The NPP led the first-round election but lost to NDC in a run off. The 2012 elections had the NPP having 70.9% and NDC 28.4%. The NDC won. NPP had 76.3 % in 2016 with NDC getting 23%. NPP won. 2020 election was very interesting, NPP had 71.6% and NDC got 26% yet the NPP won, ” stated on his Facebook wall.
In further explaining the Ashanti Region’s significance in electoral processes in Ghana, particularly the NPP. COKA disclosed that since the NPP wins every election when they win massively in the Ashanti Region their competitor the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has always made strives to push enough resources, time and energy so they can be popular in the region.
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He said that every time the NDC marches ahead a little in terms of votes, the NPP ends up paying the price.
“They have succeeded to some extent that anytime the NDC appreciates votes in the region (above 28%) and NPP depreciates votes in the region (below 71%), the party (NPP) finds itself in trouble (opposition), “ he stated.
But his assertions had a baseline, as he was making the claims in relation to the recent significant history that Vice President Dr. Bawumia has made in the party.
Dr. Bawumia has now become the first Northern flag bearer of the NPP, which means that the party which has its strong base in the south will have to do more.
This, according to COKA, is something to reflect on because “Ashanti region constitutes the largest of the various subgroups of the Akan. It is the region with the highest electoral votes in Ghana apart from Greater Accra (a cosmopolitan and a swing region).”
The region which is a target for the NDC has also been targeted by Alan Kyeramateng’s butterfly movement. COKA finds it worrying because Alan Kyeramateng was once a stalwart of the party and is also an indigine of Ejisu in the region. This means that he will be able to carry much weight in the region with his activities if he presses on.
“Again, the electoral trends show that any party in government seeking a third consecutive win suffers a bit of 2% or 3% apathy and a drop of votes especially its strong hold.” With this in mind a flagberear of Northern descent must have a running mate from the south precisely the Ashanti Region, which is the party’s stronghold.
COKA believes that if the NPP will be able to break the 8-year political cycle, the grounds work in the Ashanti Region must be at its highest. Therefore, the running mate should be a “resourceful and charismatic” individual to rejuvenate the base of the party and also “counter the NDC cum Alan kyerematen’s butterfly movement shenanigans in the region
