Sacked NPP MP wins Fomena seat as independent candidate

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Fomena in the Ashanti Region, Andrew Amoako Asiamah who was dismissed by the party from Parliament has successfully sailed through to secure a win in the 2020 elections as an independent candidate.

Mr. Asiamah who decided to run independently after he was disqualified from contesting the party’s parliamentary primaries also had his seat declared vacant in Parliament.

However, at the end of polls on Monday, December 7, 2020, Mr. Asiamah managed to obtain 12,805 of the total votes cast by beating his contenders – Philip Ofori Asante of the NPP and Christiana Appiagyei of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who polled 10,798 and 2,608 votes respectively.

The other contestant in the race, Eric Appiagyei of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) had 158 votes.

These confirmed final results from the Electoral Commission (EC) at the Fomena Constituency also showed that the total number of votes was 26,637 out of which 247 were rejected.

President, Nana Akufo-Addo had impressed on the chiefs and people of Fomena in the Ashanti Region to persuade their MP to rescind his decision to contest as an independent candidate saying, Mr. Amoako Asiamah’s decision, if not rescinded, could deprive the people of Fomena of development.

Akufo-Addo had said it will be in the best interest of the people of Fomena if Mr. Amoako Asiamah goes back on his decision to contest the parliamentary election as an independent candidate.

The president said he will ensure that Mr. Amoako Asiamah is comfortable in his next government should he change his mind.

Despite these assurances, some residents in the area particularly those in Akrokerri vowed to mobilize votes for the independent candidate as a result of his track record.

The constituents expressed disappointment over the decision of the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye for declaring the Fomena seat vacant.

The unhappy residents many of whom were party members said the actions by the Speaker does not deter them from ensuring that Mr. Asiamah returns to the house.