The northern part of Ghana has drawn to itself significant attention as the country prepares for the next polls.
For the first time, the north is likely to have two of its sons lock horns to battle for the highest title of the land – the President.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will be represented by former President John Dramani Mahama, who hails from Bole in the Savannah Region for the 2024 elections.
The ruling party, New Patriotic Party (NPP) is yet to elect its flagbearer but among those competing is Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, born in Tamale in the Northern Region. He is the only northern among the 10 competing for the flagbearer position.
Already, Speaker Alban Bagbin has informed Overlord of Gonja, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunutu Jewu Soale, at his residence in Damongo of the likelihood of two northerners comepting for the first time.
“This is the time that the two main parties in Ghana are both deciding that the flagbearers will be our sons from the North. What I plead with all of you is for us to accept our differences and see how we can come together to prepare to receive the development that is coming our way.”
Should that be the case, the question of the day becomes – How will the people of the north vote? This has become crucial as the NPP has a marginal advantage over the NDC with regards to the number of Parliamentary seats in the north.
But this has not always been the case.
In a documentary detailing Dr Bawumia’s candidature, Ghanaian broadcast journalist and the host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, revealed that 15 years ago, the NDC dominated the number of northern Parliamentary seats but have now lost majority of the seats to the ruling party.
Findings of the documentary are as follows:
2008 elections
In 2008, the NDC led by late former President John Evans Atta Mills as flagbearer and John Mahama as his running mate secured 21 parliamentary seats in the north out of the total 26 seats.
The NPP led by current President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, his then running mate won 4 seats. The remaining seat was secured by an independent candidate.
2012 elections
The number of seats out for grabs were 31. Out of the total, the NDC secured 20 while the NPP won 10 seats.
The NDC lost one seat while the NPP won 6 more seats. During this period, the NPP were led by the same duo but the NDC was not. The NDC was now led by John Mahama as flagbearer following the demise of John Evans Atta Mills. Mr Mahama picked the late Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as his running mate.
2016 elections
With the same number of seats for grabs, the NDC secured 18 and the NPP increased their seats to 13. Both parties were represented by the same candidates.
2020 elections
In 2020, the NPP managed to take the majority of parliamentary seats in the north by securing 16. The NDC picked up the remaining 15. Following the demise of Vice President Amissah-Arthur, Mr Mahama picked former Education Minister, Nana Jane Opoku Agyemang as his running mate.
Rationale
The NPP’s growth and NDC’s regression can be attributed to several factors such as government performance, performance of respective Member of Parliament with regards to development. However, the influence of whoever leads the party cannot be ruled out as a contributing factor.
Who takes it all?
Flagbearer hopeful, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has touted his optimism in widening the number of seats in the north for the NPP.
“They know John Mahama cannot take me on in the North. I will beat him in the North. This is why they don’t want me be to flagbearer,” he said to some NPP supporters over the weekend.