The race for the Sunyani East parliamentary seat is intensifying as four candidates prepare to challenge the long-standing incumbent, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, in his quest for a fifth term.
Mr. Ameyaw-Cheremeh, who has held the seat for four consecutive terms, now faces the critical question: will his extensive experience and established reputation be enough to secure victory once again in this increasingly competitive contest?
Reports suggests that with a diverse field of candidates, the dynamics in the Sunyani East constituency — traditionally an NPP stronghold — could shift dramatically.
Located in the Bono Region, Sunyani East is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested battlegrounds in the upcoming December elections. The constituency borders Sunyani West, Asutifi North, and Tano North in the Ahafo Region, making it a strategic electoral zone.
Data shows that Sunyani East has consistently supported the ruling New Patriotic Party since 1996, when the late Joseph Henry Mensah first won the seat from the NDC, paving the way for the current MP, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh.
With provisional figures from the Electoral Commission indicating that 116,820 registered voters will cast ballots on December 7 across 280 polling centers, the stakes are high.
The four candidates contesting in this year’s election are incumbent Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh (NPP), Seid Mubarak (NDC), Alanyina Sampana Sampson (PNC), and independent candidate Ransford Antwi.
In the 2020 elections, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh received 49,003 votes out of 80,923 valid ballots, while his closest competitor, Alan Bright Sekyere of the NDC, garnered 28,933 votes.
Each candidate in this year’s race has been sharing their vision for the constituency:
Gideon Kyeremeh Amoah, a member of the NPP communication team, expressed confidence in Ameyaw-Cheremeh’s track record.
“Every community in the Sunyani East constituency can highlight the MP’s achievements. In sports, he provided an astroturf for the area. In education, he has facilitated numerous scholarships for his constituents,” he said.
First-time contender Seid Mubarak of the NDC outlined some of his plans: “With my lobbying skills, I’ll work to secure a modern sports stadium for Sunyani to support our youth in various sports, not just football. We’re striving to ensure the people of Sunyani vote for me on December 7.”
Alanyina Sampana Sampson, representing the People’s National Convention for the fifth time, believes this election could be his breakthrough. “People urged me to run again because they feel the incumbent hasn’t met expectations, so I’m confident of winning this time,” he said.
Businessman and philanthropist Ransford Antwi shared his vision, highlighting his focus on empowering young people with tools.
“I’d like to introduce a ‘tools bag’ initiative to equip young people with resources. These tools would be strategically placed for easy access, so they can be borrowed, used, and returned,” he explained.
As December 7 approaches, the Sunyani East constituency promises to be a pivotal race, with each candidate determined to make their mark.
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