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Politics of NPP in Kumbungu Constituency - part I

Feature Article Politics of NPP in Kumbungu Constituency - part I
SEP 21, 2014 LISTEN

Arguably, Kumbungu Constituency has been one of the world banks of NDC since the Fourth Republic. There are many reasons attributable to this.

Firstly, His Excellency, Ex- Prez Jerry John Rawlings' PNDC that metamorphosed into NDC gave a strong anchor to the strength of the NDC in the Kumbungu Constituency. The popular cadre front was very instrumental in the organisation of PNDC/NDC. Within the cadre front, there were people referred to as PDC's. These PDC's were more or less agents of PNDC government. The PDC's in turn appointed influential individuals in every community. These were then referred to as Community "Chairmen". So, if an entire Community has a chairman who is PNDC/NDC, your guess is as good as mine.

Again, NPP boycott, led by Prof. Adu Boahen in 1992 had a negative impact in the Kumbungu Constituency. Though, the boycott had its positive sides, the constituency had the bad side of it.

It is worthy to note that, the constituency is made up of less than 15% literate. Man being conservative in nature means that it would be difficult for electorates to suddenly run away from a party they have been exposed to earlier. For "the devil you know is better than the angel you don't know" - Jake.

Furthermore, Alliance for Change in 1996, though was a positive move, the Kumbungu Constituency was not favoured. CPP Parliamentary candidate was being represented as part of the Alliance. Ones the merger didn't work for both parties in the constituency meant that NPP as a stronger opposition party was hit again.

Indeed, NPP became alive in 2000 when they presented a parliamentary candidate who garnered a little over 6000 votes. The NDC candidate then garnered a little over 18000 votes which was more than enough to secure victory for him.

The difference between the NDC candidate and NPP candidate meant that NPP needed a more aggressive campaign in 2004. Though, they seemed to have done that, they fell short of something. That is, the candidate that was fielded by NPP should have been repeated rather than changing a new candidate. I must say for a fact that the NPP candidate in the 2004 Parliamentary elections had all that it takes to be a member of parliament. He wasn't just a former Regional minister but also, he was an intellectual and more resourceful. Unfortunately, due to His Overlord Yaa NAA's death he lost.

Having tried a new candidate in 2004, I thought NPP could have learned their lessons by repeating the 2004 Parliamentary candidate. Instead, they went back to pick the 2000 candidate, who was considered new by the electorates.

Then came in 2012. Another gargantuan mistake was committed by NPP. The 2008 candidate was again dropped and a new face cropped up.

Unlike the previous elections(2000, 2004 and 2008), where the NPP candidate pulls approximately 6000, 5000 and back to 6000 respectively, in 2012 there was such a dramatic improvement in the number of votes garnered by the NPP parliamentary candidate. That is, the candidate managed to pull over 8000 votes as against his presidential candidate who pulled a little over 6000 popular votes. In the previous elections, NPP presidential candidate had always garnered a fixed value of 5000 plus.

Unfortunately however, things ended almost the same.

Moving forward, my humble advice to the NPP family is that there should never repeat the previous mistakes. Rather, they should begin to repeat candidates consecutively.

Stay tune to Part II.
By Soofo Yamusah in Kumbungu.
The writer is a young political observer.
0209655671/0242040793.

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