The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) are gearing up for a closely contested race in the Ayawaso North Constituency, in the upcoming December 7 elections.
The incumbent NDC MP, Yussif Jajah, is seeking a third term, while first-time NPP candidate Ibrahim Sannie hopes to unseat him.
The Ayawaso North Constituency, carved out of Ayawaso East before the 2012 elections, include areas like Pig Farm, Kotobabi, and parts of Accra New Town. With a voter population of over 59,000, the constituency comprises 12 electoral areas: Maamobi East, Maamobi West, Kwaotsuru, Timber Market, Alidu, Ladidi, Sawaba, IMS, Agbagzina, Accra New Town, Estate, and Senya. Voting will take place across 30 polling stations on December 7.
Historically, the NDC has maintained a stronghold in Ayawaso North, winning both presidential and parliamentary elections since 2012. In the 2020 elections, Yussif Jajah was re-elected with 28,207 votes, representing 62.66% of valid ballots. Confident of another victory, he promises to build on his achievements if re-elected.
The NPP, however, is determined to break the NDC’s dominance in the constituency, with Ibrahim Sannie, a businessman and chairman of V Bells Group of Companies, as its candidate. He believes he has successfully connected with the electorate and is optimistic about his chances.
Abdul Manaf Wacker, the NDC constituency chairman, is confident the party’s deep-rooted support will deliver a landslide victory for their candidate.
On the other hand, Alhaji Manaf Mohammed, a former NPP parliamentary candidate and current member of the National Zongo Campaign Team, argues that the NPP is strategically positioned to win all the Ayawaso seats, including Ayawaso North.
The constituency, an urban poor area, faces challenges such as unemployment, flooding in some areas, and poor waste management. Despite these difficulties, the incumbent MP insists he has made significant progress and pledges to do even more if given another term.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Sannie highlights his developmental initiatives and urges constituents to vote for him to accelerate progress in the area.
Ultimately, the choice lies with the voters. Some constituents shared their thoughts with Channel One News discussing the factors that will influence their decisions.
Market women in the area are also hopeful that the next MP will address issues in the market to boost their trading activities.
Both the NDC and NPP have condemned the violent clash between their supporters in Maamobi on Sunday, October 13, which left two people shot and seven others injured. They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a peaceful election.
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