Dome-Kwabenya Tilting Towards NDC After Two Decades: Constituency Dynamics on the Brink

In a seismic shift in the political landscape of Dome-Kwabenya constituency, a long-standing stronghold of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Greater Accra Region, whispers of a potential pivot towards the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have echoed through the airwaves.

For the first time in a span of two decades, the constituency finds itself at a crossroads, with a growing chorus of electorates expressing disillusionment and discontent with the status quo.

Amidst the murmurs of dissent, a cohort of voters within Dome-Kwabenya have signaled their intention to depart from the NPP camp in both the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections slated for December.

While some constituents have earmarked their presidential vote for the NPP or the newcomer New Forces candidate Nana Kwame Bediako, a significant faction has vowed to throw their weight behind the NDC in the parliamentary race, citing grievances over perceived underdevelopment in the largest constituency.

A mounting body of evidence and preliminary data from the Electoral Commission (EC) reveals a shifting landscape in Dome-Kwabenya’s electoral dynamics.

The constituency, nestled within the Ga East District, boasts the highest number of registered voters totalling a staggering 172,907, painting a vivid picture of political significance. Tracing back to the constituency’s inception in the lead-up to the 2004 general election, Dome-Kwabenya emerged as a political entity carved out of the Abokobi-Madina constituency, with the seasoned Prof Mike Oquaye assuming the mantle of MP at the time.

Fast forward to the electoral showdown of 2020, the numbers unveil a tale of diverging fortunes.

The NDC’s parliamentary candidate Faustina Elikplim Akurugu amassed a formidable 52,262 votes, capturing 40.64% of the electorate’s favor, while in the presidential sphere, the party’s flagbearer John Dramani Mahama secured 50,136 votes, representing 38.71% of the electoral pie.

Contrastingly, the NPP’s stronghold was evident, with President Akufo-Addo clinching 78,467 votes (60.58%) in the presidential arena, while the incumbent parliamentary representative Sarah Adwoa Safo, who has now conceded defeat in the NPP’s internal parliamentary contest, notched up 75,041 votes (58.35%).

Despite the NPP’s recalibration and strategic candidate swaps, notably ushering in Mike Oquaye Jnr., son of the former MP and Speaker of Parliament, the groundswell of disenchantment among constituents seems unyielding.

In a recent public rendezvous with residents, a palpable sentiment of disillusionment reverberated throughout the discourse, punctuated by a resounding cry for change. One disillusioned constituent, echoing the sentiments of many, bemoaned the lacklustre progress in the constituency, pointing to stagnant development and infrastructural deficits.

The plaintive chorus echoed concerns over skyrocketing living costs, with tales of exorbitant fruit prices and dilapidated roads littering the conversation.

As the constituents grapple with economic hardship and unmet promises by successive lawmakers, the looming electoral showdown hangs in the balance.

Voices of discontent ripple through Dome-Kwabenya, painting a picture of a constituency teetering on the edge of transformation, yearning for a new dawn.

In the backdrop of escalating frustrations and unmet expectations, the impending electoral saga in Dome-Kwabenya emerges as a microcosm of Ghana’s political landscape, ripe with anticipation and uncertainty as the electorate stands poised at a critical juncture in history.