Kumawu by-election: Pressure on NPP Majority as defeat looms — Bright Simons

The Vice President of IMANI Center for Policy and Education, Bright Simons, has said the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) faces real pressure to hold on to its Kumawu parliamentary seat in the upcoming by-election.

The Kumawu constituency will vote for a new MP on May 23 following the death of incumbent MP Philip Basoah.

Many see the race as a close contest that could unseat the NPP.

In the 2020 election, NPP's Basoah won with 14,960 votes, while Independent candidate Kwaku Duah trailed closely with 11,698 votes.

Duah is seen as a strong contender again this time.

Bright Simons noted in a tweet on Friday, May 19 that, "The razor-thin working majority of Ghana's ruling party in the Parliament is coming under renewed pressure as the party balances on the edge of losing the upcoming by-elections on May 23rd in Kumawu."

He said the NPP candidate, Ernest Yaw Anim, is "relatively weak" even within his own party after winning the primaries with just 195 votes.

Meanwhile, Duah who is running again as an independent candidate "will split ruling party votes."

Simons said the opposition NDC's candidate is "more resourceful and a consensus candidate."

The Kumawu seat is seen as key for the NPP given that it's in Ashanti Region - the party's stronghold.

But defeat could further erode the government's slim majority of one seat in Parliament following the Supreme Court removal NDC MP for Assin North James Gyakye Quayson from Parliament.