‘Big guns’ fall in parliamentary election
A political hurricane of incredible magnitude swept through the parliamentary polls when 31 Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the House tumbled.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs suffered 28 casualties, including ministers, ministers of state and deputy ministers, crumbling under the weight of their opponents from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
While the NDC lost in few constituencies, it made inroads into NPP territories.
For the big shots that fell, and their political parties, they might be undergoing some quiet introspection to establish what went wrong.
The voting pattern has indicated what has come to be known in political parlance as “skirt and blouse” .
NPP casualties
Some of the NPP heavyweights who fell were:
Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Nalerigu -Gambaga
Mr George Oduro, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, New Edubiase
Mr George Andah, Deputy Communications Minister, Awutu Senya
Mr Yaw Buaben Asamoa, Adentan
Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Minister of State, Madina
Mr Siaka Stephens, Deputy Bono Regional Minister, Jaman North
Mr Yaw Afful, Deputy Aviation Minister, Jaman South
Ali Maiga Hamidu, Dormaa West
Prof. George Gyan Baffuor, Minister of Planning, Wenchi
Major Derrick Oduro (retd), Deputy Minister of Defence, Nkoranza North
Mr Charles Konadu Yiadom, Nkoranza South
Ms Abena Durowaa Mensah, Assin North
Mrs Barbara Asher Ayisi, Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, Cape Coast North
Mr Francis Kingsley Cudjoe, Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Ekumfi
Mr Alexander Abban, Deputy Minister of Communications, Gomoa West
Mr Joseph Tetteh, Upper Manya Krobo
Mr Ebenezer Nartey, Ablekuma Central
Mr Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, Deputy Minister of Transport, Tema East
Mr Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, Deputy Attorney-General, Tempane
Mr Frank Adongo Fuseini, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Zebilla
Mr Anthony Abeifa Karbo, Deputy Minister of Roads, Lawra
Mr Michael Gyato, Deputy Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Krachi East
Mr Paul Essien, Deputy Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Jomoro
Barbara Oteng Gyasi, Minister of Tourism, Prestea Huni Valley
Mr Kofi Amoakohene, Bono East Regional Minister, Atebubu Amanten
Mr Gabriel Osei, Tain
Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, Deputy Minister of Health, Ledzokuku
Mrs Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Krowor
Mrs Paulina Abayange, Upper East Regional Minister, Navrongo Constituency
NDC casualties
For the NDC, its MPs who lost were:
Alhaji Ibrahim Rauf Tanko, Yagba/Kubore
Mr Adam Mutawakilu, Damongo
Upsets
Some of the candidates who caused upsets were:
Mr John Peter Amewu of the NPP, who scored a historic victory by grabbing the Hohoe Constituency
Mr Francis Xavier Sosu, a legal practitioner, NDC, Madina
Mr Yussif Mustapha, NPP, Yagba/Kubore
Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, NPP, Damongo
Mr Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, NDC, Prestea Huni Valley
Madam Lydia Akanvariba Adakudug, NDC, Tempane
Dr Kwamina Minta Nyarku, NDC, Cape Coast North
Alhaji Baba Issifu Seidu, NDC, Nalerigu-Gambaga
Ms Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, NDC, Awutu Senya West
Mr Joseph Kwasi Mensah, NDC Nkoranza North
Mr Mohammed Adamu Ramadan, NDC, Adentan
Bede Ziedeng, NDC, Lawra
Ashai Odamtten, NDC, Tema East
Retention
A number of MPs who brushed off opposition to retain their seats included:
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, NPP, Suame
Mr Edward Bawa, NDC, Bongo
Mr James Agalga, NDC, Builsa North
Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong, NPP, Assin Central
Mr G.K. Ricketts-Hagan, NDC, Cape Coast South
Mr Samuel Atta Mills, NDC, Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem
Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo, NPP, Dome Kwabenya
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, NDC, Klottey Korle