NDC elects unpopular candidate to contest with the Regional Minister in the Takoradi Constituency
Since the Western Region was splitted, there has been a new set of elements that could influence the chances of both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The new faces, some of whom are much exposed to Ghanaian politics and others totally new to the political landscape, will have their constituencies being a target for a serious competition. But for both political parties, these persons have been elected to contest in their respective constituencies come December 7, 2020.
One of such new candidates is the NDC’s Lawyer Frederick Faustinus Faidoo (Esq) of the Takoradi Constituency to contest with the NPP’s Dr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah (Incumbent) who also doubles as the Western Regional Minister and was elected into office in 2008, having maintained his seat for a third time.
The Takoradi Constituency is one of the domineering and secured seats for the NPP in the Western Region and has always been falling for the NPP since its creation.
The NDC’s candidate, Mr Frederick Faustinus Faidoo is a lawyer by profession. He was confirmed by the party in the party’s 2019 Parliamentary Primaries to contest the parliamentary elections for December 7, 2020 general elections.
Lawyer Faidoo is new to this general election but promises to maximize the political chances of the NDC and its Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama in the upcoming general elections.
Meanwhile, in the 2016 general elections, the NDC brought Mr Alfred Ekow-Gyan popularly known in public circles as “Abbot” who was the Regional Deputy Minister but lost to the incumbent. It is uncertain why he never showed up in the NDC’s 2019 Parliamentary Primaries.
However, Mr. Darko-Mensah will have to work extra hard to garner more votes since the Presidential candidate has been getting more votes than the parliamentary candidate in the constituency even though he was the best MP elected in the region for the 2016 parliamentary elections.
For instance, in the 2008 elections, the parliamentary candidate had 22,704 (58.9%) while Nana Addo had 23,349 (62.35%) and 24,461 (62.96%) in the run-off.
In the 2012 general elections, the presidential candidate garnered 25,760 (60.55%) while the parliamentary candidate had 25,958 (61.04%) being the only time the parliamentary candidate’s votes went up over the presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, in the 2016 general elections, the presidential candidate had 27,350 (69.80%) with that of the parliamentary candidate as 27,169 (69.42%).
Political analysts in the region can state unequivocally that Mr. Darko-Mensah has his ticket to the Parliament House after the December 7, general elections.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
