Former President John Dramani Mahama, the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 general elections, has advised constituents of the Kumawu Constituency in the Ashanti Region to resist any form of inducement from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and vote against them in the upcoming by-election.
Mr Mahama, who was in the constituency to offer condolences to the family of the late MP, Philip Basoah, urged the constituents to change their voting pattern and expressed his belief that Basoah's passing was a sacrifice for the Kumawu Constituency.
“Kumawu constituency, shake yourself a bit in this by-election because they [NPP] have taken you for granted for too long. May the soul of Basoah rest in peace. I see his death as a sacrifice to Kumawu Constituency. If not for his passing, there is no way we will see this heavy earth-lifting machine on Kumawu town roads,” Mahama stated.
During his campaign for the NDC's parliamentary candidate, Kwasi Amankwaa, commonly known as Tom Cee, in Bodomase near Kumawu, Mahama reminded the constituents that their loyalty to the NPP in previous elections had not brought about significant development.
He highlighted various infrastructure projects initiated by the NDC, such as road construction and the provision of clean water, and criticized the NPP government for abandoning projects after the NDC's defeat in the 2016 election.
“The road from here to Drobonso was constructed by the NDC. The road from here to Agogo was also done by the NDC. The water we drink here in Kumawu, it is the NDC that brought it here. When we were distributing hospital projects, we told ourselves that Kumawu people also deserve one, and we brought one here. Unfortunately, when we lost the 2016 election, the NPP government abandoned the project for over six years now. But because of the upcoming election, they are not trying to do something there. If they complete it, that's good for you, but if they don't complete the project, I want to assure you that the next NDC government will complete it for you,” Mahama asserted, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
Mahama called on the constituents to change their voting pattern and acknowledged that all the legacy projects in Kumawu and Bodamase were brought to the area through the NDC's initiatives.
Accusing the NPP of attempting to influence voters through inducements, Mahama stated, “The NPP is on a door-to-door campaign sharing a cup of ‘Tugyimie' [Low-quality rice] to you in the constituency just to win your votes. So now, the NPP thinks the value of your vote value is a cup of Tugyimie? I am pleading with you that when they bring the Tugyimie, please take it, cook and eat it. But on Tuesday, tell them that your voting power cannot be influenced by a cup of rice. The voting day is Tuesday. Please come out in your numbers and vote for Kwasi Amankwaa devoid of violence.”
Mahama expressed confidence that change would occur in Kumawu and called for the NPP to be replaced.
Responding to Mahama's statements, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, refuted claims that the construction of the Kumawu roads was an attempt to win votes in the upcoming by-election. He stated that the procurement for the road construction was made prior to the late MP's demise and that the ongoing works extended beyond Kumawu to other areas in the constituency.
Hon Amoako-Atta emphasized that the passing of the former MP was a coincidence, and efforts would be made to honor his name posthumously. He questioned whether the people of Juaben, Effiduase, and Asokore, which were included in the road works, were part of the Kumawu Constituency or involved in the selection of the next MP for Kumawu. The Minister also claimed that the late MP had been informed about the project during his lifetime.
