Commentary of a Seasoned Political Watcher on Awutu Senya West Seat

The race for the Awutu Senya West parliamentary seat is evolving into a fierce contest, with Mr. Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communication at the Presidency, leading the charge for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). As the party's 2024 parliamentary candidate, Arhin’s influence in the constituency becomes evident as he initiates a series of projects immediately after the current Member of Parliament, Hon. Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, assumes office in 2021, following the December 2020 elections.

Despite Arhin’s energetic approach, characterized by numerous projects, Tetteh-Agbotui maintains a calm demeanour, quietly observing the developments in her constituency. While her rival garners attention, she focuses on delivering a few human-centered programs in alignment with her campaign promises. For a time, it seems as though there will be little competition, as Tetteh-Agbotui appears unshaken by Arhin’s rapid progress.

However, the situation intensifies in 2022 when President Akufo-Addo visits the constituency and publicly credits Arhin with spearheading the road projects undertaken by the government in the area. This endorsement directly contradicts Tetteh-Agbotui's claims that she has been instrumental in lobbying for those very projects, as evidenced by her statements in Parliament.

The President’s comments ignite a heated debate, with supporters of both candidates clashing on social media and other platforms. Arhin's communicators lean heavily on the President's remarks, while Tetteh-Agbotui's team relies on video evidence of her parliamentary statements, particularly one where the immediate past Roads Minister, Hon. Amoako Atta acknowledges her efforts in securing the projects.

In response, Tetteh-Agbotui springs into action. She initiates water projects and begins work on recreational centres, including cutting the sod for an Astroturf project at Awutu Beraku. To further demonstrate her commitment, she allocates additional funds to the stalled Bawjiase community centre project, which is now taking shape. Despite these efforts, her projects do not match the scale of Arhin's, who continues to benefit from the advantages of incumbency. His contributions include the construction of a three-unit classroom block for a deprived community, a community library, and an ICT centre, among other initiatives.

The activities of both candidates suggest that the contest for the Awutu Senya West seat is becoming increasingly intense. The stakes are raised even higher when the NDC flagbearer, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, visits the constituency to extol the virtues of Tetteh-Agbotui He highlights her role in leading the team of architects that designs the much-lauded Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport, which generates significant revenue for the government. This endorsement signals to the constituents that, like her sister, Hanna S. Tetteh, Gizella is poised for a cabinet position should the NDC emerge victorious in the December national elections.

As a seasoned political watcher and communication strategist, I must acknowledge that both Arhin and Tetteh-Agbotui have yet to capitalize fully on their respective strengths. Arhin's communicators are not effectively illustrating how his projects will tangibly benefit the constituents, while Tetteh-Agbotui's team struggles to position her as a capable professional with the expertise and experience needed at the national level.

Ultimately, the candidate who excels in communication and political strategy will likely emerge victorious. Both contenders are showing commendable performance thus far, making it clear that the race for the Awutu Senya West seat is far from over.

The author is a columnist and an Information Officer at ISD

By Bala Ali