The Sene West Constituency in the Bono East Region of Ghana was one of the most closely contested seats in the 2020 parliamentary elections.
In a surprising turn of events, John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, secured a landslide victory over Nana Akuffo Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, with a significant margin of 16,096 votes to 9,218. However, the incumbent Member of Parliament representing the NDC, Hon. Kwame Twumasi Ampofo, in the Parliamentary race for Sene West, narrowly escaped defeat with a remarkably slim margin of only 16 votes.
The Sene West constituency has historically been a stronghold of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). However, in the 2020 elections, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate put up a strong challenge, pushing the incumbent MP to the wire.
The election results showed that Kwame Twumasi Ampofo of the NDC won the seat with a total of 13,116 votes, while his closest challenger, the NPP candidate, polled 13,100 votes. The margin of victory was a mere 16 votes, making it one of the closest contests in the Ghana's 2020 parliamentary elections.
The Sene West constituency is located in the Sene District of the Bono East Region and has a total of 34,895 registered voters. The constituency has been represented in parliament by the NDC since its creation.
The narrow victory of Kwame Twumasi Ampofo in the 2020 elections is a testament to the growing competitiveness of Ghanaian politics. It also highlights the importance of every single vote in determining the outcome of an election.
When a stronghold parliamentary seat is threatened by an opponent, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) must take immediate action to secure the seat. This means putting in extra effort to engage with constituents, address their concerns, and demonstrating their value as a representative.
Historically, safe seats have been regarded as fully secure for a particular political party or incumbent representative. However, supposed safe seats can still change hands in a landslide election.
Also, Political parties may try to ensure that their most talented or influential politicians are selected to contest safe seats. This allows these politicians to focus on ministerial roles without worrying about managing electorate-specific issues.
Ultimately, even in safe seats, complacency can be a significant risk. Incumbent MPs must remain vigilant, engage with their constituents, and continue to demonstrate their value as a representative to avoid losing a seat that has long been considered safe.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0