Ten(10) members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, comprising three women, are eyeing the vacant Ejisu Constituency seat.

In other words, they have declared their intentions to contest the parliamentary primary election slated for April 13, 2024.

The Ejisu Constituency seat became vacant after the demise of the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Dr John Ampontuah Kumah. Dr Kumah died at the age of 45 after a short illness.

A former President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, is among the nine aspirants. He was spotted at the Ashanti Region campaign launch of the ruling party, and he made his intention clear in an interview with a section of the media.

A four-time contender, Abena Pokuaa Boaitey, popularly known as ‘Ejisu Bronii’, is staging her fifth comeback.

Wife of Bono Region Chairman of the NPP, Portia Acheampong Abronye, has made her intention known, as well as the current Presiding Member of the Ejisu Municipal Assembly, Helena Mensah and Bright Gyimah.

The former Presiding Member of Ejisu Municipal Assembly, Michael Owusu, has expressed an interest too.

The current Constituency Chairman, Kofi Agyapong, is also expected to battle it out with his Second Vice, Kwabena Boateng, as both executive members have expressed their interests in the race.

Finally, a lecturer at the Akenten Appiah Menkah University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Dr Evans Duah, has his eyes on the ball.

Whoever emerges as winner on the side of the NPP after April 13 is likely to face competition from three-time Ejisu MP, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi. A deep throat source has indicated his comeback, albeit not on the ticket of the ruling party.

The former Roads Minister took over from Akwasi Osei-Adjei (former Foreign Affairs Minister) in the run-up to the 2008 elections after the latter lost the parliamentary primary.

Mr Aduomi also lost his fourth bid to the late Dr Kumah in 2020.

In November 2023, the former lawmaker described the leader for the Movement For Change (MFC), Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, as “a good politician with a legal and economic background.” His public endorsement during an MFC event at Ejisu has further deepened speculations that he has defected from the ruling party.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) already has a candidate in the person of Jerryne Asante. However, it is not certain the party will contest the Ejisu by-election.

An insider, who disclosed this on condition of anonymity, said, “We have advised that we pull out and prepare well for the December general election.”The NPP has held the Ejisu seat since 1996.Source: Adwenpa-Hene