Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency has been a hotbed of political rivalry between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for years.
The by-election that took place in January 2019 after the demise of the sitting member of parliament Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko, brought a new twist to the political contest between the two major political parties in Ghana.
In the by-election, the NPP’s candidate, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, emerged victorious after polling 68.80% of the total votes cast, while the NDC’s candidate, John Setor Dumelo, secured 30.52% of the total votes cast. John Setor Dumelo’s loss was a surprise to many as he had put up a spirited campaign to win the seat.
The rivalry between John Setor Dumelo and Lydia Seyram Alhassan did not end with the by-election. John Setor Dumelo, a Ghanaian actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, decided to contest for the Ayawaso West Wuogon seat again in the 2020 general elections. Lydia Seyram Alhassan, on the other hand, was seeking to retain the seat she had won in the by-election.
The political rivalry between the two candidates was intense, with both parties engaging in several verbal attacks and accusations against each other. Despite the tension and political mudslinging, Lydia Seyram Alhassan emerged victorious once again, polling 39,851 votes, while John Setor Dumelo polled 37,778 votes.
John Setor Dumelo, however, refused to concede defeat, claiming that the election was flawed and marred with several irregularities. He subsequently filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging the election results, but the case was dismissed by the court.
In conclusion, the rivalry between John Setor Dumelo and Lydia Seyram Alhassan has been intense, with both parties putting up a spirited campaign to win the Ayawaso West Wuogon seat.
While Lydia Seyram Alhassan emerged victorious in both the by-election and the 2020 general elections, John Setor Dumelo’s political ambition and resilience have earned him admiration from many Ghanaians.
The political contest between the two candidates is expected to continue in subsequent elections, as both parties seek to gain control of the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency.
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