All is set for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to conduct parliamentary primaries in constituencies with sitting MPs tomorrow, January 27, 2024.
The election is expected to be held in 105 constituencies across the country, with a few incumbent MPs going unopposed.
Indications are that some former MPs are seeking to return to the legislative chamber after they lost their seats in previous elections.
After scanning data and information on past elections, The Ghana Report presents nine MPs staging a comeback in the NPP’s parliamentary race for 2024.
Alex Kofi Agyekum, Mpohor constituency
Alex Agyekum, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mpohor Constituency in the Western Region, lost his bid in the 2020 NPP primaries to the incumbent John Kobina Amoah Sannie.
Mr Agyekum was hoping to serve for a third term, but the delegates ousted him.
He polled 101 votes, losing to John Sannie, his contender, who polled 192.
During his tenure in Parliament, Mr Agyekum served as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee for Youth, Sports and Culture.
Alex Agyekum is competing with first-term Member of Parliament (MP) John Kobina Amoah Sannie and Philip Asirifi Cobbinah to return to the legislative chamber.
Collins Owusu Amankwah, Manhyia North
Two-time Member of Parliament (MP) for the Manhyia North Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Collins Owusu Amankwah, lost the 2020 primaries by less than 10 votes to the incumbent, Akwasi Konadu.
Mr Amankwah was the vice chairman of the defence and interior committee in Parliament. He was in Parliament for two terms – 2012 to 2020.
This time around, the former MP is making a comeback.
He said his decision to seek re-election stemmed from a desire to complete the transformational agenda he initiated during his previous term.
He faces off with Richard Osei Bamfo and the incumbent MP, Akwasi Konadu.
Joseph Albert Quarm, Manso Nkwanta
The former MP for Manso Nkwanta Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Joseph Albert Quarm, is back in an attempt to retake the seat on the NPP ticket.
He lost his seat after a one-term bid in Parliament from 2016 to 2020.
Mr Quarm said his comeback resulted from numerous calls from delegates, party faithful and the constituents.
The former MP in 2020 lost the primaries to the incumbent Member of Parliament, George Obeng, with a sixty-vote margin.
Nana Akua Afriyie, Ablekuma North
Former MP for the Ablekuma North and Ghana’s Deputy Ambassador to China, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie and the incumbent Sheila Bartels will battle it out again in a contest tipped to be fiercely competitive.
Nana Afriyieh, who lost the seat to Ms Bartels in the 2020 primaries, is seeking to make what she describes as
“the golden comeback”, having represented the people in Parliament from 2016 to 2020.
According to Nana Afriyie, her return was motivated by her passion to serve the party and the people, adding that the delegates themselves rooted for her comeback.
Whereas supporters of Sheila Bartels tout her investment in human resource development and easy accessibility as
among the basis to justify her re-election, faithfuls of Nana Afriyie proclaim her humility and positive
interpersonal relationship as grounds for her return.
The renewal of the battle between the two women has generated a mixture of excitement and anxiety among the
NPP in the constituency.
In the meantime, the battle lines have been drawn, and two women, both of whom have won the seat before, will
lock horns in a suspenseful contest.
Dr Kwabena Twum Nuamah, Berekum East
Dr Kwabena Nuamah, a former MP for the Berekum East Constituency in the Bono Region, surprisingly lost his seat in the 2020 primaries by the NPP.
He was hopeful of retaining his seat and engaged in a vigorous campaign to the best of his knowledge. But at the end of the day, he lost his bid to the incumbent MP, Nelson Kyeremeh.
Dr Nuamah was in Parliament from 2012 to 2020(two terms). He served as the Chairman of Parliament’s health committee.
He is making a comeback, hoping to succeed and return to Parliament.
The former MP is squaring it off with Nelson Kyeremeh, the incumbent, and another contestant, Hastings Adu-Twum.
Joyce Adwoa Akoh Dei, Bosome-Freho
Adwoa Akoh Dei was MP for the Bosome-Freho Constituency in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
The one-term MP lost her seat in the 2020 NPP primaries to Akwasi Boateng Darko, the incumbent.
Madam Akoh Dei hoped to serve for a second term, but the delegates ousted her.
She is contesting the seat with the incumbent, Akwasi Darko.
Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, Asante Akyem North
Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, a former MP for Asante Akyem North in the Ashanti Region, is seeking a comeback in the NPPs parliamentary race in the constituency.
Baah Agyemang is currently the Chief Executive of the Ghana Digital Centres Limited.
Some assembly members and well-wishers in Asante Akyem North teamed up and picked the nomination forms for Kwadwo Baah Agyemang to contest the parliamentary primary in the constituency.
He was in Parliament from January 7, 2013, to January 6 2017 and has entreated delegates in Asante Akyem North to vote massively for him so that he could better represent them in Parliament.
Baah Agyeman, who is seeking re-election, will face the incumbent MP, Andy Appiah Kubi, in a fierce battle of ideas.
Kennedy Kwasi Kankam, Nhyiaeso
Kennedy Kankam, a former MP for Nhyiaeso, wants to stage a comeback to unseat his main contender, the deputy trade and industry minister Stephen Amoah.
Kankam, a first-time MP who went to Parliament after unseating ‘big man’ Dr Richard Anane at the primaries in 2015, was unable to retain his seat after being ousted by Stephen Amoah.
Mr Amoah took over the seat in 2020 after beating Kankam in the primaries ahead of the December 2020 general elections.
Seth Kwame Acheampong
Seth Kwame Acheampong was MP for the Mpraeso constituency in the 5th, 6th, and 7th Parliament of the Fourth Republic but lost to the current MP for the area, David Ansah Opoku, in the last primaries when attempting to seek a fourth term.
However, President Akufo-Addo’s appointment as Eastern Regional Minister rekindled his political journey, now aiming to represent New Juaben North to succeed Nana Adjei Boateng, the incumbent Member of Parliament who has hanged his boot.