Introduction
In Episode 2 of the Constituency Watch Series,
we take a closer look at the Ledzokuku Constituency in the Greater Accra
Region, which has a unique and assertive voter population that defies
conventional electoral patterns.
The Ledzokuku Constituency is known for its
strong support for presidential candidates of the National Democratic Congress
(NDC), but it also has a remarkable record of electing new Members of
Parliament (MPs) in every election since 1996. No MP has managed to retain
their seat, even when their party wins the presidential election. This shows
how competitive the constituency is, and how the voters are not
loyal to any parliamentary candidate.
The upcoming polls in December will be
a test for the incumbent MP, Benjamin Narteh Ayiku of the NDC, who faces
a tough challenge from the former MP and Minister of Health designate, Dr
Bernard Oko Boye of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Dr Oko Boye was the MP from
2017 to 2021, but he lost to Mr Ayiku in the 2020 elections by a narrow margin
of 1,866 votes. In 2023, both candidates were again elected by their parties to contest
the 2024 parliamentary elections.
Will the constituents continue their
tradition of changing their MPs, or will they make history by re-electing Mr
Ayiku? What issues have influenced their voting behaviour over the years? How
do the presidential and parliamentary election results compare and contrast in
the Constituency?
This article will answer these questions
and more, by analysing the electoral performance of the NDC and the NPP from
1996 to 2020. It will also highlight the key factors that account for the
success or failure of the various parties and candidates in the Constituency.
About the Ledzokuku Constituency
The Ledzokuku Constituency is one of the
most vibrant and diverse Constituencies in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
It has a total voter population of 142,995
registered voters, who are spread across 12 electoral areas, namely Tsuibleoo
Central, Akromadeokpo, Akromadeokpo West, Tsuibleoo South, Okosekor,
Sutsurunor, Tsuibleoo North, Teshie-Nungua North, Teshie-Nungua South,
Agblezaa, Aborle, and Nii Ashietey Akomfra.
The Constituency is home to some important
institutions and landmarks, such as the Southern Command of the Ghana Armed
Forces, the Kofi Annan International Peace keeping Centre, and several
industries. It also boasts some popular neighbourhoods, such as the Teshie
Nungua Estates, Martey Tsuru, Greda Estate, Teshie Camp 2, Manet, Tsuibleoo,
Tebibiiano, and Lascala, among others.
The Constituency is bordered by the Gulf of
Guinea to the south, the Krowor Constituency to the east, the Adentan and the
Ayawaso Constituencies to the north, and the La Dade-Kotopon Constituency to
the west.
The main occupation of the indigenous
people of the constituency is fishing. However, the emergence of some
industrial activities in recent years have diversified the economy of the area,
creating more opportunities for formal and informal employment.
The Ledzokuku Constituency is a fascinating
constituency to explore, as it offers a rich and varied history, culture, and
economy, as well as some challenges and prospects for the future.
Dynamics of Presidential Elections in Ledzokuku
The NDC has dominated presidential
elections in the Constituency, winning five out of seven times, with the NPP
securing victory only twice, in 2000 and 2004.
The graph below shows an analysis of the presidential election’s performance of the NDC and NPP in the Constituency from 1996 to 2020.
Source: Author’s Computation, data from EC
From the graph, the National Democratic
Congress (NDC) has been the dominant party in the constituency, winning five out of the
seven elections since 1996. The NDC’s best performance was in 1996 when it secured 60% of
the votes, a landslide victory over the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which only
got 37.9%.
However, the NDC’s dominance in Ledzokuku
is not absolute. The NPP has also shown some strength, winning the
elections in 2000 and 2004, and coming very close in 2016, with 0.5%
difference.
The graph also reveals a trend of both
parties experiencing fluctuations in their performance over the years,
suggesting that the electorate in Ledzokuku is not rigidly aligned with one
party.
Parliamentary Election Dynamics
Unlike the presidential elections where the NDC maintains a dominant position, the parliamentary elections have been notably more competitive. Below is a graph illustrating the performance of the NDC and the NPP in parliamentary elections from 1996 to 2020.
Source: Author’s Computation, data from EC
The graph shows how the parliamentary seat
of Ledzokuku has changed hands between the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the past seven elections from 1996 to
2020.
The graph reveals that the Ledzokuku seat
has been highly competitive and unpredictable over the years, with the NDC
winning it four times (1996, 2008, 2012 and 2020) and the NPP winning it three
times (2000, 2004 and 2016).
The winning candidates of the NDC were
Nii-Adjei Sekan (1996), Nii Nortey Dua (2008), Benita Sena Okity-Duah (2012),
and Benjamin Narteh Ayiku (2020) while the NPP winning candidates included Eddie
Akita (2000), Dr Gladys Nortey Ashitey (2004), and Dr Bernard Oko Boye (2016).
The closest race was in 2004 when the NPP’s
Dr Ashitey beat the NDC parliamentary candidate, Nii Nortey Dua by 1% of the
votes. The biggest margin was in 2008 when a rematch between the duo saw Nii
Nortey Dua won by more than 15% over Dr. Ashitey.
Interestingly, no MP has been able to keep
their seat for more than one term. Both parties have changed their candidates
several times, except for Dr. Ashitey who ran three times for the NPP. The
graph illustrates the volatility and competitiveness of the Ledzokuku
constituency over the years.
Who Wins?
Dr Okoe Boye's recent appointment as the
Minister for Health could bolster his electoral prospects in the upcoming
parliamentary elections. His position allows him to leverage his experience and
expertise in healthcare, potentially resonating with voters concerned about
health issues.
However, being a swing constituency, the current economic hardships in the country could make it difficult for the NPP to win both the presidential and parliamentary elections in the constituency. Road deficit and security concerns are also part of the myriad of problems facing the constituency and these challenges can also affect the chances of the ruling party and its candidates, putting the NDC in a better position to emerge victorious in both the parliamentary and presidential elections within the Ledzokuku Constituency.
Conclusion
The Ledzokuku Constituency is an intriguing
constituency that has defied the conventional political patterns in Ghana. Even
though the presidential elections have been dominated by the NDC, no MP has
been able to retain their seat since 1996. This shows that the voters are
assertive and independent-minded, and they evaluate the candidates based on
their performance, rather than their party affiliation.
The 2024 elections will be another
opportunity for the voters to exercise their democratic rights and choose their
representatives as well as maintain or distort the status quo. The incumbent
MP, Benjamin Narteh Ayiku of the NDC, will face a rematch with the former MP
and current Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Oko Boye of the NPP, who lost to him
by a slim margin in 2020.
The presidential election, on the other hand, will likely see another victory for the NDC, unless the NPP can make significant inroads into the constituency and win over the loyal supporters of the NDC.
The Ledzokuku Constituency is a constituency to watch, as it reflects the dynamism and diversity of Ghanaian politics.
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