Nkoranza North Elects New MP Tomorrow

Political analysts have described tomorrow’s bye-election in the Nkoranza North Constituency as a '50-50' affair.

According to them the Constituency is not a stronghold of any political party, adding that the former Member of Parliament, Eric Amoateng, won the seat through his benevolence.

The analysts who spoke on condition of anonymity to the Times on the chances of both the NPP and the NDC in tomorrow’s election.

The Nkoranza North seat became vacant following the resignation of the NPP Member of Parliament, Eric Amoateng, last month.

He is currently standing trial in the United States of America on charges of trafficking narcotic drugs.

Those contesting the seat are Osei Bonsu, 57, a licensed letter writer on the ticket of the Democratic Peoples Party, Dr. Kofi Amoako-Gympah, 31, a medical doctor for NDC and Major Derek Oduro (rtd), presiding member of Nkoranza District Assembly for NPP.

In the last election, Mr. Amoateng polled 9,144 votes to beat the NDC candidates who had 5,402 votes. An independent candidate had 4,354 whilst 590 ballots were rejected.

Mr. Amoateng was said to have been sponsoring the education of over 100 students, from the basic level to tertiary institution.

Meanwhile, electioneering campaign for the bye-election officially ended yesterday.

The Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Commander, Kwaku Ayesu Opare-Addo, told journalists here yesterday that the police are on top of security situation in the constituency.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Opare-Addo warned non-accredited persons to stay clear off polling stations.

The warning follows reports of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) accusing each other of hiring ‘macho men’ to harass voters during the election.

Mr. Opare-Addo said his outfit had heard of the rumours but assured that adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure an incident-free poll.

He hinted that more than 300 security personnel would be deployed in the 69 polling stations to maintain law and order.

'The security agencies will not spare anyone who will be there to create confusion,' he warned.

The Electoral Commission, for its part, said all is set for the bye-elections. Mr. Kofi Frimpong, Nkoranza District Director of the EC, told journalists that all electoral materials have arrived in the district leaving the ballot papers to be received yesterday.

The Nkoranza North constituency was carved out of the Nkoranza Constituency prior to the 2004 bye-election.

Tomorrow’s bye-election will be the sixth to be held during the second term of the NPP’s administration.

The NDC won three of the previous five in the Odododiodoo, Asawase and Tamale Central while the NPP won the remaining two of Offinso South and Fomena.

Consequently the two parties attach great importance to tomorrow’s poll.

The NDC would like to win it to increase its tally to four while the NPP would like to take it to maintain its hold in the constituency and also to equal the tally with the NDC.