The December 7, 2024 parliamentary elections brought surprising results, particularly for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), with several high-profile ministers losing their seats.
These losses highlight the challenges the party faced in retaining control of key constituencies, especially as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) made significant gains in traditionally NPP-dominated areas.
Among the notable NPP ministers who lost their parliamentary seats were:
- KT Hammond (Adansi Asokwa) – Minister for Trade and Industry, KT Hammond, lost to NDC’s Godwin Animli Dorgbadzi Dorani, who secured 14,229 votes against Hammond’s 13,275 votes. This loss marked a major upset in the NPP’s stronghold.
- Henry Quartey (Ayawaso Central) – The Minister for the Interior lost to NDC’s Abdul Rauf Tongym Tubazu, who garnered 29,755 votes compared to Quartey’s 23,345 votes.
- Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (Ablekuma West) – The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation was defeated by Rev Kweku Addo of the NDC, with Addo polling 31,866 votes against Owusu-Ekuful’s 26,575 votes.
- Mavis Hawa Koomson (Awutu Senya East) – The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development lost to NDC’s Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunnor, who secured 50,886 votes, while Koomson received 46,638 votes.
- Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer (Sekondi) – The NPP’s Tourism Minister was ousted by Blay Nyameke Armah of the NDC, who won with 14,558 votes compared to Mercer’s 11,084 votes.
- Lydia Alhassan (Ayawaso West Wuogon) – The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources lost to NDC’s John Dumelo, who won with 40,561 votes, while Alhassan received 27,377 votes.
- Dakoa Newman (Okaikwei South) – The incumbent MP for Okaikwei South lost her seat in a significant shift, reflecting the growing challenges the NPP faces in urban constituencies.
- Sylvester Tetteh (Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro) – The NPP MP was defeated by Okle Felix Akwetey of the NDC, with Akwetey securing 37,473 votes over Tetteh’s 27,888 votes.
These defeats underscore the evolving political dynamics in Ghana, with the NDC capitalizing on voter dissatisfaction in several constituencies. The losses have shaken the NPP’s grip on power, prompting a reflection on the party’s future strategies.
