Tarkwa Victory Shocked Me –Western NDC Chair

Western Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Kojo Toku, has disclosed that the party’s victory in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency during the 2024 general elections came as a major surprise to him, given the stature and perceived performance of the former Member of Parliament, George Mireku Duker.

Speaking in an interview on Onua FM, Nana Kojo Toku, admitted that he did not anticipate the NDC claiming the Tarkwa seat, especially considering the political standing of Mr Duker, who previously served as Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and was widely regarded as a strong political force in the constituency.

“I was extremely surprised we snatched the Tarkwa Nsuaem seat,” the Regional Chairman said, adding “looking at the work and the standing of the former legislator, George Mireku Duker, I did not expect that outcome.”

He explained that although the NDC had technically won the Tarkwa seat during the 2020 elections, circumstances surrounding the collation process left the party uncertain about future prospects in the constituency.

Nana Kojo Toku, who has declared to continue as Regional chairman, after open declaration to retain his chairmanship seat alleged that the deployment of military personnel to the collation centre during the 2020 polls created confusion and intimidation, which eventually led to the tallying of votes in favour of the then-incumbent MP.

“In 2020, the NDC won Tarkwa, but because of the deployment of the military to the collation centre to cause mayhem, the votes were tallied for Duker.

“Because of that experience, I was not certain we could snatch the seat again in the last election,” he told his host.

Beyond Tarkwa-Nsuaem, the Western Regional Chairman noted that victories in Essikado-Ketan and Mpohor constituencies were equally unexpected, describing them as pleasant political surprises for the party. According to him, the electoral outcomes underscored a changing political landscape in the Western Region, one that demands strategic governance and sustained engagement with the electorate.

“Essikado and Mpohor were also two other seats that surprised me. When those seats turned green in favour of the NDC, it showed that voters were making very strong statements.”

However, Nana Kojo Toku cautioned that winning parliamentary seats alone does not guarantee their retention in future elections.

He stressed that the NDC’s ability to maintain its gains, particularly in Tarkwa-Nsuaem, would depend largely on the performance of the party in government and how effectively it addresses the needs of the people.

“Sustaining and maintaining the Tarkwa seat depends on what the party and the government do now. If governance continues like this, even a minute to the election can make a difference. So, I can’t predict that we will automatically maintain it.”

He further emphasised that voter confidence is fluid and can change rapidly based on government actions, urging party leaders and appointees to remain grounded and responsive to public concerns.

Commenting on the NDC’s overall performance in the Western Region, Nana KojoToku described the party’s achievement of winning 15 out of the 17 parliamentary seats as significant, but said it comes with responsibility.

He called on President John Dramani Mahama and his government to pay particular attention to the region, given its strategic importance to the national economy.

“The President and the government need to have an eagle eye on the Western Region. The region should be on the priority list because of the resources it produces for the entire country.”

According to him, the Western Region has for decades contributed immensely to Ghana’s economy through its mineral, timber, cocoa and oil resources, yet remains inadequately compensated in terms of infrastructure development and social investment.

“The Western Region needs to be compensated for the vast resources it produces for the nation,” Nana KojoToku stressed, adding that equitable development would deepen the party’s support base and restore public confidence in governance.

On infrastructure, the NDC Chairman gave assurances that the current government was committed to completing major projects initiated by the previous administration, but left unfinished. He said there are clear indications that abandoned projects in the region will not be neglected.

For now, there is assurance that government will complete all projects started by the previous government that were left in the bush,” he said.

Among the projects he mentioned are the Takoradi-Agona Nkwanta road, the Western Regional Hospital project, the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital redevelopment, and the Takoradi Market project, all of which he described as critical to improving healthcare delivery, transportation, and commercial activity in the region.

Nana Kojo Toku concluded by urging residents of the Western Region to remain engaged and hold both elected officials and government accountable, noting that sustained development would only be possible through active citizen participation and responsible leadership.

 

 

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