A defeated parliamentary aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Afigya Sekyere East in the Ashanti Region, Opoku Fofie, has announced his decision to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 general election.
He cited many election violations during the parliamentary primary, including vote-buying, leading to the victory of the incumbent MP, Mavis Nkansah Boadu.
Fofie expressed concern over NPP party executives’ apparent protection of the sitting MP and said it has had an adverse impact on unity within the party.
“We raised issues ahead of the NPP primaries, but that was ignored. Delegates voted under duress. They were threatened and intimidated with cash,” Fofie alleged.
“Considering all the happenings in the just-ended parliamentary primaries I, Opoku Fofie, today – Thursday 1 February – will contest as an independent candidate ahead of the December polls [sic],” he further declared.
Fofie, aka Sly, suffered a humiliating defeat in the race, coming second to Nkansah Boadu with 161 votes to the MP’s tally of 586. A third candidate won seven votes.
Some townsfolk have endorsed Fofie’s decision to run as an independent candidate.
“I am an NDC member, and everyone here knows. I will vote for my flagbearer, John Mahama, but Fofie has my vote. He is the one who can rescue this constituency and I will campaign for him,” said one resident at the press conference.
The decision by Fofie comes as the NPP launches local reconciliation drives to address post-election tensions in the regions.
Reporting by Jonathan Ofori, Ashanti Region
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