The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary election
is over. The outcome is a mix bag of surprises and shocks. Whiles some party
stalwarts retained their positions, others fell off hard. Some who had tasted
parliament for the first time were kicked out.
The primary was a novelty. It was the first time the ruling
NDC had expanded their electoral base to include all its members across the
6,000 polling stations in the 275 constituencies nationwide. Despite some few hitches, the process was
largely peaceful.
Surprises And
Casualties
Bigwigs such as E.T Mensah (one of the three wise men in the
majority side of Parliament), Alfred Agbesi (Deputy Majority Leader), George
Loh, Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, Nii Armah Ashietey and Dr. Alhassan Ahmed lost, (un)surprisingly,
the primaries to candidates you could describe as ‘novices’.
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| E.T.Mensah (L) was defeated by Sam George |
Political watchers were not greatly surprised with the loss
suffered by some incumbent MPs such as Nii Armah Ashietey since the Dr. Zanetor
Rawlings attraction was one that could not be ignored. Minister of Youth and
Sports, Dr. Mustapha Ahmed’s loss also did not come as a surprise to many
within the Ayawaso North constituency.
The biggest upset of the day was at Ningo-Prampram, where the
five -time Member of Parliament, Enoch Teye Mensah, was unseated by an
overwhelming margin by his very own ‘small boy’, Sam George after a bitter
campaign. Sam George won the contest with 4,910 votes to Mr. E.T. Mensah’s
2,861 votes.
Analysts place the defeat of Mr. E.T. Mensah down to two
reasons: First, his ‘contribution’ to making Prampram-his hometown- a district
capital at the expense of Ningo. Though, this allegation might be erroneous,
the people of Ningo felt his ‘development agenda’ was skewed to favour
Prampram.
Second, the people felt he had occupied the position for far
too long-a total of 25 years-and that a new face was needed going into 2016
General Elections. And in Sam George, a son of Ningo, they saw a befitting successor.
The signs for E.T. Mensah to step down were present if not clear.
In 2012, the total votes of E.T. Mensah fell from around 71% in 2008 to 54% in
2012 in Ningo Prampram. The constituency, since 1996 has been an NDC stronghold
and seeing the opposition NPP candidate, who hails from Ningo, earn a
significant percent of votes in 2012 was enough evidence for him to either sit
up or get out on his volition.
The defeat of Alfred Agbesi (Ashaiman), George Loh (North
Dayi) and Dr. Alhassan Ahmed (Mion) to
young faces such as Ernest Norgbey, Jocelyn Tetteh and Dr. Mu-Awia Zakaria
respectively is shocking considering their influence and stature in parliament
and government.
MPs Promises and
Implications
The penchant of politicians to promise all sort of developmental
projects during political campaigns has been identified as one of the primary
reasons some fail to get their mandates renewed after their tenure is nearing
closure.
Aspiring MPs choose to speak about constructing roads,
creating jobs, building schools rather than their constitutionally mandated
duty of making laws. MPs play a lobbying role via wooing colleague ministers
and government for development projects and using part of their Common Funds to
undertake certain projects. But the real job of local development falls within
the chest of the various District, Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies. This I’m-building-this-which
means –I’m-working- so- vote- for- me’ syndrome must not be the case but its
reality.
Accra based radio station Citi FM organized a Parliamentary
debate for contestants in the Ledzokuku-Krowor Constituency a couple of weeks
ago and listening to the concerns of the locals, one wonders if the electorates
really understand the work of an MP. From why a road hasn’t been constructed to
why the MP didn’t visit them when someone passed away showcased a hollow
understanding of (an) MPs mandate. But, again can you blame them? They are holding
these MPs to what they promised.
For those who failed to secure another tenure, it is simply
because the voting public thought them as ‘detached’ from them-that is, they
felt their concerns –whether collectively or individually-were not satisfied by
their MPs so they had to punish these crop of MPs
Can’t this misinterpretation of the role of MPs by a large
section of the electorates, provoke a debate on electing District or Municipal
and Metropolitan Chief Executives in the country since they are the real
development agents at the local levels?
2016 Election lines
Drawn
Now, that the NDC has elected their 2016 parliamentary candidates, the two major parties are ready to slug it out in 2016 for the
hearts and thumbs of electorates. Notwithstanding the fact that some of these
candidates have an easy stroll into parliament come 2016-for those who find
themselves within the confines of each parties ‘World Bank’, the battle would
be tough for those who are within a more cosmopolitan and ‘swing’ regions.
These parties would be going full hog, fighting for every
thumb within their constituency and the country. Allegations of overt and
covert designs from within or outside of respective parties to diminish an
opponent’s or parties chances would be rampant because the prize of winning is
huge for their respective parties either at the parliamentary and presidential
fronts.
With Ghanaians seemingly getting fed up with the (in)actions
of the ruling government and the main opposition party, NPP in self-destructive
mode and no real third force in sight, the 2016 elections promises to be
exciting and competitive. And we all wish it would be peaceful and violent
free.
