Constituency Watch Series Episode 2: Ledzokuku Constituency

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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