Kumawu by-election: NPP suffering to maintain their seat shows they have failed — Mustapha Gbande

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is struggling to maintain its stronghold in the Kumawu constituency, according to Mustapha Gbande, the Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He claimed that the NPP is using state resources to buy votes and is resorting to desperate measures to secure victory in the ongoing by-election to replace the late MP, Philip Basoa.

In an interview on Asaase Radio's Breakfast Show on Tuesday, May 23, Gbande alleged that the NPP has lost its popularity due to the poor performance of the Akufo-Addo government.

He said the NDC is conducting itself well and reminding the people of Kumawu of the existing developmental projects in the area.

"We haven’t come here for political sloganeering. We’ve come here to work and to remind the people of Kumawu the existing developmental projects," Gbande said.

"Whilst we’re campaigning on goodwill, they’re engaged in vote buying and opulent use of state resources in buying votes," he added.

Gbande also claimed that the NPP has been begging for votes and using the whole state machinery to win the election.

"They have moved the whole state machinery to Kumawu even though they claim it’s their backyard, they are even kneeling to beg for votes,” he said.

According to him, the people of Kumawu will shock Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP in the election, stressing that the ruling party has lost its goodwill and popularity among Ghanaians.

The Kumawu by-election is been keenly contested by the NPP, NDC and other two independent candidates, both with the name Kwaku Duah.

The NPP has held the seat since 1996, and losing it would be a huge blow to the party's fortunes in the Ashanti region, which is considered its stronghold.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of the NPP MP, Philip Basoa, who passed away in March this year after a short illness.