Even though Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia secured an overwhelming victory to become the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, the Upper East Regional Secretary of the party, Elvis Atiah Figo Awonekai, is of the view that the tribal conflict in Bawku and in its surrounding constituencies has adversely impacted the votes obtained by Dr. Bawumia in the region.
In the Upper East Region, Dr. Bawumia obtained 5,218 votes of the total number of votes cast, his main contender, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong secured 2,111 votes, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto had 177 votes while Francis Addai Nimo managed to obtain 95 votes.
In all the 15 constituencies of the Upper East Region, the outspoken MP for Assin Central constituency won only the Zebilla and Binduri constituencies over Dr. Bawumia and also came close to winning some constituencies in the Kusaug traditional area.
It was against this backdrop that the Upper East Regional Secretary of the NPP says the Bawku conflict created a tense and volatile atmosphere in Bawku and its surrounding constituencies leading to polarisation among the delegates and that went in favour of Kennedy Agyapong.
“In a few days before the elections, there were a lot of threats from a section of the conflict in the Bawku zone. I wanted the Vice President which he has won convincingly but the chieftaincy issue in Bawku was there.…. There were some [delegates] who had difficulty coming out because they thought that they would be attacked”, Mr. Atiah stated.
The Bawku conflict is a long-standing ethnic and chieftaincy conflict between the Kusasis and Mamprusis in the Bawku municipality. According to Elvis Atiah Figo Awonekai, most delegates from constituencies such as Bawku, Zebilla, Binduri, Pusiga, Garu, and Tempane that constitute the Kusaug area had trust issues voting for Dr. Bawumia as leader of the NPP.
“Some voted probably the way they voted because they felt like if the results had been the other way there would be issues. Around the Bawku zone, there were tribal issues. NDC propaganda was stronger than us and some felt like we needed to get some other candidate”
Aside from the tribal conflict in Bawku that dwindled Dr. Bawumia’s votes in the Upper East Region, Mr. Atiah who spoke exclusively to A1 Radio’s Joshua Asaah in Bolgatanga said other delegates voted massively for Mr. Agyapong over the Vice President “just because they felt they haven’t been catered for”
The regional secretary congratulated the Vice President for the resounding victory and expressed optimism that Dr. Bawumia’s contribution to the nation’s development will translate immensely in favour of the NPP in the 2024 general elections.
He therefore called for unity among party folks in the region and beyond to ensure the party is retained in the next elections.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga|Ghana
