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04.05.2016 Feature Article

Volta Region Or Voter Region? Part [2]

....A 500 Words Analysis On The Region, Development And Election 2016
Volta Region Or Voter Region? Part 2
04.05.2016 LISTEN

OUTLINE VOLTA OR VOTER REGION [QUAYE]
Is there any region out of the ten [10] regions in Ghana which is constantly complaining of lack of development from successive governments.

If no, can we say that the media has over years not performed its role very well by highlighting the region for development to be carried out in the area by successive governments?

Apart from Volta Region in Ghana, no other region[s] of the ten regions you will agree with me has ever complained of lack of development more than that region.

Therefore, the chiefs and the people in the region threatened to change their voting pattern come November 7, 2016 general elections.

Immediately President John Dramani Mahama visited the area four times and assured them of development ahead of the elections.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo of the NPP also visited the area to remind them of numerous development projects NPP government initiated during its eight years in power urging them to return it to power to continue its development of the area.

OUTLINE VOLTA/VOTER REGION [QUAYE]
Looking at the voting pattern of the chiefs and people in the region, some political activists have tagged the area “NDC WORLD BANK”, “NPP NO GO AREA”, “OPPOSITION NO GO AREA” and recently “VOTER REGION” and not “VOLTA REGION”.

VOLTA REGION OR VOTER REGION is a critical analysis of the region and how it will perform after the 2016 general elections.

AUTHOR IS FORMER NEWS REPORTER OF THE GHANAIAN CHRONICLE, EASTERN REGION.

VOLTA CHIEFS ON MAHAMA QUAYE[PAGE1]
Before December 7, 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections, President John Dramani Mahamah and his NDC party took their campaign to the Volta Region to canvas for votes.

On October 5, 2012, MYJOYONLINE.COM reported the Mr.Mahama appealed to the electorates to vote for his NDC parliamentary candidates to make his work as the president easier for him

The headlined news,” Make my work easier, vote for my MPs-Mahama tells electorate” quoted the president as saying “you vote for the president, you have to give him majority in parliament so that it would make his work easier”.

In other words, he told the chiefs and the people in the Volta Region, if they want development, they should vote for him and his MPs to bring the needed development to the area which could be termed as a negotiation.

With this at the back of their mind, the electorate in the Volta Region went to the polls with one mission and that voted massively for Mr. John Dramani Mahamah and his NDC parliamentary candidates.

Volta Region is made up of twenty-six [26] constituencies when it comes to presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana.

The NDC won parliamentary seats in 25 constituencies and left one seat for an independent candidate to occupy.

All the 26 parliamentary candidates of the New Patriotic Party [NPP] not even one of them was able to win a seat in the region.

This made the NDC to proud itself that Volta Region, is indeed the “NDC WORLD BANK” no matter how hard other political parties may fight to win a seat in the area.

“Volta Region is not a swing region when it comes to conducting general elections in Ghana. Volta Region is the world bank of the NDC when it comes to presidential and parliamentary elections in the country” simple and period.

A swing region or battle ground or purple region in Ghanaian politics refers to a region in which no single candidate or political party has over whelming support in securing that region’s Electoral College or population votes.

As the chiefs and people of Volta Region demonstrated to all in the last parliamentary elections, they voted massively for their party NDC parliamentary candidates in all the 25 constituencies except that in Akan constituency where an independent candidate won the seat.

So having satisfied their side of the negotiation as they voted massively for President Mahama and the NDC MPs to create the jobs in the area, construct the roads, build the schools and hospitals that are not coming, they descended heavily on the president.

2012 Parliamentary Results in Volta Region
Adaklu:
Kwame Governs Agbodza NDC 11.825 87.97
Justice Jowawa Aklamanu NPP 898 6.68
Afadjato South:
Joseph Zephanat Amewode NDC 22.09 84.33
Emma Millicent Kartey Kofiedu NPP 3.784 14.49
Agptime Ziope:
Juliana Azumah Mensah NDC 14.485 78.80
David Yaoga Suru NDP 1.935 1053
Akan:
Joseph Kwadwo Ofori IND 9139 30.81
John Kwadwo Gyapong NDC 8,396 28.31
Akatsi North:
Peter Nortsu Kotoe NDC 10,879 82.99
Prince Sodoke Amuzu NPP 1,971 15.04
Akatsi South:
Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho NDC 21,588 65.08
Evans Gadeto Djikunu IND 9,945 29.98
Anlo:
Clement Kofi Humado NDC 32,654 8199
Makafui Kofi Woanya NPP 3,599 9.04
Biakoye :
Emanuel Kwasi Bandua NDC 19,714 67.74
Daniel Korsiamah NPP 9,092 31.24
Buem:
Henry Ford Kamel NDC 19,031 73.77
Asukwa Boakye Francis NPP 5,404 20.95
Central Tongu:
Joe Kwasie Gidisu NDC 26,127 85.08
Thomas More Zonyirah NPP 3,769 12.27
Ho Central:
Benjamin Komla Kpodo NDC 60,129 88.51
Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa NPP 6,758 9.95
Ho West:
Emanuel Kwesi Bedzra NDC 32,623 89.10
Ernest Yao Gaewu NPP 3,014 8.23
Hohoe:
Dr. Bernice Adiku Heloo NDC 40,486 81.58
Oduro Adibo Janet Emefa NPP 6,358 12.81
Keta:
Richard Quashiegah NDC 33,570 92.43
Vordzorgbe Alex Mawunyo Kwasi NPP 1,272 3.50
Ketu North:
James Klutse Avedzi NDC 33,825 77.99
Pius Enam Nadzide NPP 8,153 18.80
Ketu South:
Kwetey Fiifi Fiavi Franklin NDC 77,837 88.92
Edmond Delali Amegashie NPP 4,122 4.71
Kpando:
Dellah Sowah NDC 19,243 79.11
Richard Aplotsyi IND 2,474 10.17
Krachi East:
Wisdom Gidisu NDC 13,493 52.91
Patrick Charty Jilmah NPP 10,405 40.80
Krachi Nchumuru:
John Majisi NDC 14,049 60.85
Kofi Tarkom Taylor NPP 8,769 37.98
Kratsi West:
Helen Adwoa Ntoso NDC 14,049 61.10
Osei Nti Douglas NPP 8,769 38.14
Nkwanta North:
John Nti Kwablah Bless NDC 33,570 93.81
Nayan Kwaku Joseph NPP 1,272 3.55
Nkwanta South:
Gershon Kofi Bediako Gbediame NDC 13,870 56.81
Edusei Cephas Kujo NPP 8,465 34.67
North Dayi:
George Loh NDC 13,724 75.64
Ken Anku NPP 2,991 16.48
North Tongu:
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa NDC 33,422 90.45
Nicolas M.K.Ahiadome NPP 2,522 6.83
South Dayi:
Simon Emefah Asimah NDC 12,309 76.95
Felix Lartey PPP 3,123 19.52
South Tongu:
Woyome Kobla Mensah NDC 32,785 83.03
Klutse Kudomor IND 4,417 11.19
Let us look at the parliamentary election results in three selected constituencies in the Volta Region where the chiefs and the people are blasting the president for lack of development in those areas.

Hohoe: Dr. Mrs. Bernice Adiku Heloo NDC 40,486 81.58 percent of votes cast.

Oduro-Adibo Janet Emefa NPP 6,358 12.81, percent of votes cast.

Kpando: Della Sowa NDC 19,243 79.11 percent of votes cast

Richard Apklotsyi IND 2,474 10.17 percent of votes cast

South Dayi: Simon Edem Asimah NDC 12,309 76.95 percent votes cast

Ameyibor Freeman NPP 182 1.14 percent votes cast
Now let us pick these three constituencies from which the chiefs and people were reported to have taken the president to the cleaners and ask them why they are leaving their MPs out of blame for lack of development in their areas?

First let us look at Hohoe constituency where the NDC candidate Dr.Mrs. Bernice Heloo had 40,486 votes representing 81.58 percent as against the NPP candidate

Oduro-Adibo Janet Emefa who polled 6,358 representing 12.8 percent.

Dr. Mrs. Bernice Adiku Heloo was massively voted for by the chiefs and the people of Hohoe to represent them in the law making house so she should be able to tell the chiefs and the people in the area why development is not coming to the area.

Let us once again go to Kpando constituency where the NDC candidate Dellah Sowah polled 19,243 votes representing 79.11 percent as against an independent candidate Richard Akplotsyi who had 2,474 equals to 10.17 percent and that of the NPP candidate Theresa Akosua Sewa who polled 2,307 representing 9.48 percent.

Where was Dellah Sowah, the MP for the area when the chiefs and the people of Kpando were ripping the president cloak for not fulfilling his promises to them?

Last but not the least, let us look at South Dayi where the NDC candidate Simon Edem Asimah polled 12, 309 representing 76.95 percent beating the NPP candidate Ameyibor Freeman to the fourth position after the PPP and CPP respectfully. Ameyibor Freeman polled 182 votes representing 1.14 percent.

The members of parliament representing the areas mentioned where the chiefs and the people are in arms against the president for not bringing development into their areas are suppose to hold public meetings with their residents to collate their opinions and present them to the house for action.

On the other side the chiefs and people in the constituencies are suppose to hold durbars and summon their MPs to brief them about how far they have gotten to as far as pushing their developmental agenda high for positive action to be taken on it.

A critical look at the situation indicates that the link which is suppose to be between the chiefs and their members of parliament on the other side is missing which has left the chiefs and the people to live in limbo or in the wilderness.

The president through the minister of finance presents a budget to parliament for approval by the law makers including the MPs for Hohoe, Kpando and South Dayi, which might include construction of roads by the ministry of roads and highways.

Now the point is if the 26 MPs do not present the opinion of the chiefs and people of the region which will also list roads to be added to other roads to be constructed in the country, how can the president explain why roads are not being constructed in the constituencies in Volta Region?

It is time the chiefs and people of the Volta Region, start turning their guns on their MPs too demanding for accountability for the area’s development and makes the attacks on the president the last resort.

In the next edition, we will discuss how best the chiefs and the people of Volta Region can take the development of their areas into their own hands and move on with it.

STEPHEN A.QUAYE
TORONTO-CANADA
E-mail: [email protected]
May 1, 2016

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