The Techiman South Constituency, located in the Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region, has a population of 243,335 and a voter population of 127,854. With Techiman as its capital, it is bordered by Wenchi Constituency to the northwest, Nkroranza South and Sunyani West to the southeast, Offinso North to the south, Nkoranza North to the northeast and Techiman North to the north.
The constituency comprises 32 electoral areas and has diverse ethnic groups with the Akans being the largest (50.5%), closely followed by Mole-Dagbani (27.2%), Gurma (3.2%), Guan (2.6%), with 16.5% consisting of Ga-Adangbe and other ethnic groups, according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census.
A map of Techiman South and its boundary constituencies.
Agriculture is the major economic activity for most constituents,
employing around 55% of the people. Also, the Constituency serves as a trading hub, boasting one
of the largest
markets in West Africa, which attracts traders from various countries in
the sub-region, including Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, Mali, among
others.
The Constituency has historically been a stronghold for the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) in presidential elections but has alternated
between the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in parliamentary elections.
The 2020 elections saw a tight contest in the presdential race, with the NDC
narrowly defeating the NPP with 49.3% to 46.9% of the votes.
The parliamentary election was also closely contested, with
Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah of the NPP winning with 50.2%, amidst controversy and violence that marred
the collation of results which
led to the death of some people and others severely injured.
The NDC disputed the results of the parliamentary
election claiming that their candidate, Christopher Beyere
Baasongti, was unjustly denied victory. Despite a court ruling against them,
the party remains adamant that they were robbed of victory.
As the 2024 elections approach, both parties have retained their 2020 candidates, setting the stage for a tight rematch.
2024 Presidential and parliamentary candidates for NDC and NPP in Techiman South
Ahead of the elections, the African Elections Project, as part of its efforts to keep voters informed through its Ghana Elections Constituency Watch series, examines the historical dynamics between the two parties in the Constituency, as well as the key issues that will shape voting decisions of voters in the Constituency.
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Dynamics of Parliamentary Elections in the Techiman South
Constituency
Parliamentary Elections in the Techiman South Constituency have been very competitive. The graph below shows the performance of the NDC and the NPP from 1996 to 2020.
Data Source: Electoral Commission (EC)
In 1996, Alhaji Kwadwo
Mama Adams won the Techiman South Constituency on the ticket of the NDC with
60.9%, defeating Reginald Agyeman-Badu of the NPP who obtained 39%. However, he served only a term of 4years in
parliament, as he narrowly lost to Prince Oduro Mensah of the NPP in the 2000
election.
In the 2004 election, Mr Oduro Mensah failed to retain the seat
for the NPP, as he was defeated by Simon Addai of the NDC, who secured 47.8% of
the vote. Addai went on to retain the seat in 2008, winning with 50.6% of the
vote against Prince Yaw Donyina of the NPP. The NDC maintained its hold on the Constituency
in 2012, obtaining 54.6% of the votes.
The NPP however staged a comeback in 2016, with Henry Yeboah
Yiadom-Boachie capturing the seat with 50.5% of the votes.
In the 2020 parliamentary elections, the NPP’s candidate, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, polled 49,682 votes, representing 50.2% of the total
votes, beating his closest contender Christopher Beyere Baasongti of the NDC
who polled 49,205 votes, representing 49.6% of the total valid votes.
Dynamics of Presidential Elections in Techiman South
Techiman South, since its creation in 1992, has
predominantly been a stronghold of the NDC in presidential elections.
The graph below shows the presidential election performance of the NDC and NPP in the Techiman South Constituency from 1996 to 2020.
Data Source: Electoral Commission (EC)
In 1996, the NDC, led by Jerry John Rawlings, secured a
resounding victory, capturing 61% of the votes. The pendulum swung in 2000 when
John Agyekum Kufour led the NPP to its first victory in the Constituency,
obtaining 50.4% of the votes against the NDC's John Atta Mills, who garnered
44.8%.
The NDC recaptured the Constituency in the 2004, 2008, and
2012 elections, obtaining 52.5%, 52.3%, and 55.7% respectively; however, they
lost the 2016 elections, as Nana Addo
Dankwa Akufo-Addo, with his message of change, led the NPP to obtain 50.7% of
the votes.
One
of the factors that might have accounted for the loss of the NDC in the
Techiman South Constituency was the DKM saga.
In 2015, thousands of customers of the microfinance company
DKM, the majority of whom were in the then Brong Ahafo Region, lost funds
running into millions of Ghana cedis after the Bank
of Ghana suspended its operations for violating the Banking Act. The NPP politicised
the issue and accused
the then-Mahama administration of doing little to address the situation.
Addressing a gathering of party supporters in the Brong Ahafo region to wrap up
his campaign tour of the area in 2016, the then NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo
said his government would ensure that all individuals and groups affected by
the DKM scandal and other scandals would
have their monies refunded.
The NDC recaptured the Constituency in the 2020 elections, securing 49.3%, against the NPP's 46.8%.
Thus, over the seven electoral cycles since 1996, the NDC has won the Techiman South Constituency five times (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2020), while the NPP has won it twice (2000 and 2016).
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Key Issues for Voters
As a major contributor to the national food basket, one of
the critical issues for constituents, particularly farmers is the poor
road infrastructure linking the farming communities to the Constituency and
regional capitals. Some farmers in an interview with GNA complained that they
cultivate vast acres of yam and cassava but do not have access to the market
because of the deplorable road network. "We are not able to send our
produce from the farms due to bad roads, and it is affecting our livelihood,"
one of the farmers told the news agency.
Another major concern for voters is unemployment, particularly
among the youth, which has led some to turn to substance abuse as a way to cope
with their situation, according to a report
by 3news.
Who Wins?
The race is expected to be extremely tight in both the
presidential and parliamentary elections, given the narrow margins in the 2020
elections. The candidates or parties that can propose effective solutions to address
the pressing issues faced by constituents are likely to get the support of
voters.
Conclusion
Techiman South Constituency stands out as a pivotal area to watch leading up to the 2024 elections. The anticipated rematch between the NDC's parliamentary candidate Christopher Beyere Baasongti and the incumbent MP Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, now serving as Minister for Local Government and Decentralization, promises to be a closely watched battle by political observers and voters alike.
Lastly, the activities of the Electoral Commission and security services, particularly that of the police, will be scrutinized in light of the violence that marred the 2020 elections in Techiman South.
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Constituency Watch Episode 2: Ledzokuku Constituency
2024 Ghana Elections Constituency Watch Series: Adentan Constituency
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