National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has cautioned supporters in the Damongo Constituency against repeating what he described as “split voting” in future elections, saying the party’s inability to win the parliamentary seat despite securing a strong presidential victory has denied supporters the full benefits of political power.
Addressing party faithful at the Damongo Community Center during his “Thank You Tour” of the Savannah Region, Chairman Asiedu Nketia called for unity within the NDC ahead of the 2028 general elections.
According to him, although the NDC and its presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, won overwhelmingly in the constituency during the 2024 elections, the party failed to capture the Damongo parliamentary seat because many voters split their ballots.“We won the presidential seat comfortably, but we could not snatch the parliamentary seat,” he stated.
Chairman Asiedu Nketia explained that when voters support the party’s presidential candidate but vote differently in the parliamentary race, they indirectly deny themselves the developmental opportunities and political influence that come with having an NDC Member of Parliament.“All that the NDC MP could have gotten for you as members of the party would now go to NPP members,” he told supporters.
He stressed that presidential and parliamentary elections must go hand in hand if constituencies are to fully benefit from political power and development.“You voted for President Mahama and celebrated the presidential victory, but because the parliamentary vote went elsewhere, the benefits that would have come through your MP will now go to others. You cannot separate the presidential from the parliamentary,” he emphasized.
The NDC Chairman warned supporters against divided loyalty, describing a presidential victory without parliamentary control as politically costly.“A presidential victory without parliamentary power is like preparing food for someone else to eat,” he remarked, urging constituents to remain focused and united going into the 2028 elections.
During his visit to the Savannah Region, Chairman Asiedu Nketia also paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I at the Jakpa Palace, where he pledged GHC50,000 to the Jira Yagbonwura Jewu Bii-Kunuto Education Fund.
He said the contribution was aimed at supporting the Yagbonwura’s vision of promoting education across the Gonja Kingdom and beyond.Chairman Asiedu Nketia further expressed gratitude to chiefs and residents of the Savannah Region for their support for the NDC and for ensuring peaceful elections in 2024.
He commended Ghanaians for choosing peace despite tensions ahead of the polls and also praised former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia for conceding defeat early, a gesture he said helped preserve calm after the elections.
Source: nkilgifm.com
