The Klottey Korle Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, traditionally an NDC stronghold, is bracing for a fierce parliamentary contest in the 2024 elections.
Since 1996, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has only won the seat twice, in 2000 and 2004, under Nii Adu Daku Mante.
Currently, the constituency is represented by Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings of the NDC, daughter of the late President Jerry John Rawlings. She first won the seat in 2016 with 50.04% of the vote, defeating Dr. Philip Addison of the NPP.
Interestingly, her current main opponent, Valentino Nii Noi Nortey, ran as an independent candidate in that election after losing the NPP primaries to Addison. He secured just 3,911 votes out of 66,836.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings retained her seat in 2020, defeating the NPP’s Prince Appiah Debrah by a margin of 8,189 votes, securing 39,343 out of 70,687 votes cast. Now seeking a third term, she faces a rematch with Nii Noi Nortey, who is running on the NPP ticket this time.
Residents and political observers are closely watching the contest. Some constituents have shared mixed opinions on the incumbent’s performance.
Beatrice Mettle, a resident of Asylum Down, expressed dissatisfaction: “There’s a gutter behind our house that floods every time it rains. We’ve informed her about it several times, but no action has been taken. This time, I’ll be voting for Nii Noi. Even though he’s not the MP, he has supported us with hospital cards and other assistance.”
Meanwhile, Edward Osei Owusu voiced unwavering support for Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings: “I will vote for Dr. Zanetor no matter what. Supporters of Nii Noi should encourage him to run on the ticket of a different political party because the NPP’s poor performance is hurting his chances. Dr. Zanetor has built a fuel station near the beach and constructed a bridge at Klottey.”
As the race intensifies, key factors such as the NDC’s stronghold status and voter perceptions of the candidates’ contributions are likely to influence the outcome.
Benjamin Hammond, a resident of Osu Alata, stated, “I prefer Zanetor and would like her to assist me. While she hasn’t personally given me a job, she has created job opportunities for others and she is always very helpful.”
Another resident of Osu Alata, Happy Dravi, said, “We need jobs. The youth are unemployed. While I may not be able to work at my age, my children can. She should focus on creating opportunities in the police and immigration services.”
Belinda Tawiah, a resident of Asylum Down, pointed out, “When they want the seat, they make promises to win our votes. But once they come to power, they forget about us. We’re always ignored until it’s time for re-election when they come back with sweet promises to entice us.
“Nii Noi has contested and lost before, but he’s still doing a lot for the community. I recently benefited from his hospital card initiative. If I were to vote for anyone, it would be Nii Noi.”
“I’ve changed my mind about voting for Dr. Zanetor. I benefited from Nii Noi’s hospital card initiative, and he has also promised to send me money to invest in my work.
“I’ll vote for Mahama in the presidential election and Nii Noi in the parliamentary election. He might even help my child secure a job after completing secondary school,” Korkoi Noi, a resident, of Osu Alata.
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