<<Print>>

The four main electoral areas in the Ayawaso Central constituency in the Greater Accra Region are Kotobabi; Alajo; Kokomlemle and Aryee-Diki. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate in the 1996 parliamentary elections, Alhaji Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye (popularly known as I.C. Quaye) won a closely contested battle. He won the seat with a margin of 675 votes over the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Alhaji Said Sinare. Quaye had 44.5% (22,794 votes) and Sinare-43.4% (27,119 votes). The results of the three other candidates in this constituency in 1996 were PCP�s Kwesi Pratt Jnr.-9% (5,621 votes); PNC�s Michael Kofi Buami-2.3% (1,433 votes) and an independent, Maxwell Apeadu-0.8% (486 votes). Our relatively younger readers will need a little backgrounder to Mr. Pratt�s participation. In 1996, the NPP and PCP had an electoral alliance in which the NPP�s John Kefuor chose the PCP�s leader, the late Mr. K.N. Arkaah as his running mate. Another aspect of the alliance was that some constituencies would be reserved for the PCP candidate that is for the NPP to support the PCP candidates. The Ayawaso Central had been reserved for the PCP and Mr. Pratt. At the last minute, the NPP presidential candidate, Mr. John Kufuor, is reported to have asked his parliamentary candidate to file. Thus, I.C. Quaye filed. In 2000, I.C. Quaye won with 56% of the votes (30,052 votes); Issaka Amon Kotei (NDC)-37.3% (19,812 votes); David Bui-Kotten Nibi (PNC)-2.4% (1279 votes); Zenabu Rashid (NRP)-2.1% (1,113) and Ben Appiah (CPPP)-1.2% (611 votes). In 2004, Sheikh I.C. Quaye won massively getting 53% (36,021); Mariama Sinare (NDC)-43.2% (29, 360 votes) and Zalia Seidu (PNC)-1.3% (858 votes). The MP�s margin of victory was 6,661 votes. In 2008, Quaye, then 71 years, won by a difference of only 857 votes. Second was 60-year-old Ofei Agyeman of the NDC-47.7% (30,058 votes), compared to Quaye�s 49.1% (30,915 votes) It needs to be emphasized that the general decline in the support for the NPP in this constituency was not limited to the parliamentary elections. In the 2004 elections, the NPP presidential candidate, President John Kufuor, won with a margin of 10, 726 votes. In 2008, Nana Akufo- Addo won with a margin of just 1,433 votes, a loss of 9,293 votes (vis-�-vis Kufuor�s performance in 2004). The NDC and NPP parliamentary candidate are new to elections. However, it will still be an electoral battle between the political families in the constituency-the Quayes and the Sinares. It will be a tension filled 24 hours on December 7, 2012 and too close to call. Security will be very tight.