Former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah (COKA), has stated that the party’s running mate for the 2024 presidential election should be from the Ashanti Region.
He emphasized the Ashanti Region’s significance as the political stronghold of the NPP and stressed it should provide the running mate to complement the party’s Northern flag bearer, Vice President Dr. Bawumia, who has made significant strides in the party.
The region, he said, has always been loyal to the party over the years, making it a target for the main opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
COKA cited the NPP’s electoral results in the region since 1996, showing that the party has consistently performed well in the Ashanti Region, except for the 2008 runoff election.
In the 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 the 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.”
He noted that the NDC makes efforts to gain popularity in the region whenever the NPP’s vote share depreciates below 71%, and the NDC’s increases above 28%.
In a post on his Facebook Wall, COKA suggested that a running mate from the Ashanti Region could, therefore, brighten the NPP’s chances in the 2024 election.
He pointed out that the region has the highest electoral votes in Ghana, apart from Greater Accra, and that it has been a target for Alan Kyeremateng’s butterfly movement.
COKA believes that a resourceful and charismatic running mate from the Ashanti Region could rejuvenate the party’s base and counter the NDC’s efforts in the region.
He also stressed the importance of breaking the 8-year political cycle and winning the 2024 election.
To achieve this, COKA believes that the groundwork in the Ashanti Region must be at its highest.
Therefore, the running mate should be from the Ashanti Region to complement the party’s Northern flag bearer, Vice President Dr. Bawumia, who has made significant strides in the party.