Controller and Accountant General loses parliamentary bid

Controller and Accountant General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, fell short in his attempt to unseat the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Akyem Swedru during Saturday’s primary elections.

The incumbent MP, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, clinched victory with a commanding 194 votes, overshadowing Kwaning-Bosompem’s 94 votes and Okyere Jerome Kwame’s mere 10 votes.

The parliamentary race garnered significant public attention when Kwaning-Bosompem, expressed his interest in challenging the incumbent.

Further, reports from Akyem Akokoaso revealed that four out of the six incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Akyemansa block of the Eastern Region secured their positions as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidates in Saturday’s primaries.

Among the victorious legislators are Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi and Minister of Information; Kofi Ahenkorah Marfo, representing Akyem Achiase; Kennedy Osei Nyarko, the victorious MP for Akyem Swedru; and George Kwame Aboagye, the MP for Asene-Akroso-Manso.

Nkrumah secured a resounding victory with 378 votes, defeating his competitors Eric Owusu-Mensah and Michael Osei Gyamenah. Ahenkorah Marfo emerged victorious with 220 votes, triumphing over George Niako, Emmanuel Kwabena Brako, Samuel Okyere Donkor, and Benedicta Biamah Adom.

Osei Nyarko, despite facing tough competition, secured 194 votes, surpassing both Kwaning-Bosompem and Jerome Okyere Akordor. George Aboagye also secured a landslide victory over his sole challenger, Alex Owusu-Adjei.

Additionally, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, the MP for Akyem Oda, was declared unopposed after his challenger, Dennis Obeng Agyei, was disqualified by the National Appeals Committee of the NPP.

However, John Osei Frimpong, the MP for Abirem, was the only incumbent from the Akyemansa block to lose in the parliamentary primary.

In a separate contest, Ghana’s Ambassador to South Africa, Charles Asuoko Owiredu, secured victory with 192 votes, defeating the incumbent MP Osei Frimpong and two other contenders.

Following his victory, Nkrumah expressed gratitude to the constituency executives and delegates, pledging to fulfill his duties diligently. He urged the losing candidates and their supporters to unite behind him to break the eight-year electoral jinx.

Meanwhile, Acquah, acclaimed unopposed, promised to redouble his efforts, especially in the development of Oda town roads. Regional party leaders praised Acquah’s past achievements and encouraged him to aim for a 90 percent presidential vote share in the upcoming 2024 general elections, emphasizing the party’s goal of breaking the eight-year electoral pattern.