Ejisu by-election: 'Voting for Aduomi is handing over power to Mahama' – Bawumia

A vote for independent candidate Kwabena Owusu Aduomi in Tuesday's by-election in Ejisu would be a vote for former President John Dramani Mahama and the main opposition National Democratic Congress, the flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said.

Speaking at a last-minute rally in Ejisu on Sunday, 28 April 2024, Vice President Bawumia said the NPP's candidate, Mr Kwabena Boateng, deserves the seat because the Akufo-Addo government has "improved the lives of the people of Ejisu than the NDC". "Nothing really worked during the NDC era…MPs don’t sponsor projects; they lobby for projects from the government in power," he noted.

In parliament, Dr. Bawumia said the NPP has 138 seats, including the independent candidate, while NDC has 137.

"And, so, a vote for an independent means handing over power to NDC and John Mahama," he noted.

“And, so that is why the NDC did not field a candidate for this by-election, they are sponsoring the independent candidate”, he said, adding: “Let’s all come out in our numbers on election day and vote massively for Lawyer Kwabena Boateng to continue the late John Kumah’s work.”

At the same rally, President Akufo-Addo took strong exception to rigging allegations made against the NPP by Mr Aduomi, who served as a deputy minister of roads and highways in the NPP.

The president said that although Mr. Aduomi “has the right to go independent”, he has reservations about the things he has been saying against the NPP.

“He defeated a cabinet minister to become the parliamentary candidate for Ejisu in 2007 and subsequently won the seat in the 2008 elections. But today, he is offended that someone else has defeated him”, the president noted.

“He claims the NPP intends to rig the 7 December 2024 elections. Were the previous elections he won rigged for him?” Mr Akufo-Addo asked.

“He should leave us alone and go his way – whether he is joining the butterfly or umbrella family; he should just let us be”, the president warned.

The president denied claims by the former deputy minister that he fixed the roads in Ejisu, saying: “I’ve heard he claims he had Ejisu roads done. I, alone, order the construction of all roads in Ghana. Know that from today till 7 January 2025, it is the NPP government that is in power led by Akufo-Addo”.

“We don’t want any independent candidate who is likely being puppeted by some big shots to put spokes in our wheels. It won't happen today or tomorrow”, the president told the crowd.

The president said it was important that the NPP retained the Ejisu seat following the death of Dr John Kumah.

“I came here to beg you for your help so that I can end the rest of my tenure. If I don’t have a majority in parliament … You’re all aware of what they are doing against us in parliament – today this, tomorrow that; all because the numbers are at par. Even if it is by one, we need a majority in the House of Parliament to be able to complete our mandate. And that one vote is Mr Kwabena Boateng”, he explained.

Raising Mr Boateng’s hand to the crowd, the president said: “He is the one who can help me finish the rest of my mandate on a good note. There’s little time left, but still, a lot of work is to be done. And anybody who wins the Ejisu seat becomes a minister in my government. I doubt if the remaining time offers me the chance to make Mr Boateng a minister, but we’ll see”.

Ejisu, the president noted, “is dear to my heart, so, please take the by-election seriously. All I want to hear in the afternoon of Tuesday is that Ejisu has returned to the NPP”.

—classfmonline