The Hohoe Constituency Parliamentary Candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Peter Amewu who doubles as the Minister of Energy can possibly snatch the long-held NDC Parliamentary Seat in the December 7, 2020 election – this is what many people in the constituency believe.
Awake Election Watch (AEW) has been monitoring political activities in the Hohoe Constituency and came up with this report.
Introduction:
The Hohoe Constituency formally Hohoe North Constituency, had its current name after the Electoral Commission of Ghana changed constituency configurations prior to the 2008 elections. What was left of Hohoe South Constituency is now what is called Afadzato South Constituency.
The Hohoe Constituency since its creation in 1992 just like many other constituencies in the Volta Region and now Oti Region has had Members of Parliament on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Undoubtedly, the NDC has since the country’s return to constitutional rule in 1992 had dominance over the region which is largely believed has been as a result of the fact that the founder of the NDC is from the region.
With this on our minds, it is highly possible, John Peter Amewu, the current Energy Minister who was also the DCE for Hohoe District Assembly during former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration could break that record in the constituency by making a history of probably becoming the first NPP MP for that constituency.
Previous Results at the polls:
In the year 2012, the NDC was represented by Bernice Adiku Heloo who had 40,486 (81.58%) with the NPP being represented by Jennet Emefa Obro-Adibo who had 6,358 (12.81%)
In 2016, the NPP’s Marlon Praises Anipa pulled 6,461 (15.12%) making a marginal increase of about 4% with the NDC’s Bernice Adiku Heloo making a marginal decline in votes after obtaining 35,437 (82.93%).
The NDC again won the seat but lost the presidential election to the then opposition NPP’s candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo.
Then, Mr Peter Amewu made it to the first list of nominees of President Akufo-Addo government. He was nominated as the Minister-designate for Land and Natural Resources.
Mr Amewu as Minister of Lands and Natural Resources:
His appointment into the office was hailed by many in the Volta Region and particularly in Hohoe Constituency and the Afadzajo South Constituency. The moment saw congratulatory messages from all political divide.
Shortly, Mr Amewu starts to gain huge national popularity for his lead role in President Akufo-Addo’s fight against illegal mining known in the local parlance as Galamsey. He is largely believed to have performed to the satisfaction and admiration of many for which he was rated among the first five performing ministers of the President Akufo-Addo led NPP administration in 2017.
Despite his performance, at the time, close associates of Mr Amewu rumoured that he had personally wished to handle the Energy Ministry.
Rumours they say have some iota of truth, then it came to pass. Like the saying goes, “someone’s poison is another man’s meat,”. Mr Emmanuel Boakye Agyako, the then Energy Minister got fired by President Akufo-Addo over the AMERI Renegotiation Deal for which the President said he was misled.
Mr Amewu became acting Minister of Energy and then substantive Minister adding up his growing popularity considering the fact that the Energy ministry is also one of the sensitive and tough areas – “Dumsor” in our mind.
They said, to know a man’s competence and character towards work, give him a herculean tasks.
John Peter Amewu and Hohoe Constituency:
Mr. Amewu seems to have a long-time dream of becoming Member of Parliament and perhaps Vice President and President of Ghana.
Many believed he will be a perfect march for Dr. Mahamud Bawumia after the reign of President Akufo-Addo.
While serving as the District Chief Executive for Hohoe District Assembly between 2001 to 2009, he contested for a member of parliament on the ticket of the NPP in 2004 and 2008. In 2004, he pulls 9,061 (20.1%) against late Jacob Hayibor of the NDC who won with 36,400 (76.8%). In 2008, he increased marginally in percentage with 21.5% (8,224) and late Jacob Hayigbor again winning with 28,168 (73.5%). From the election results of 2012 and 2016, one could easily say Mr Amewu performs better for the NPP in the Consistency.
Will Mr. Amewu defeat the NDC in 2020?
This can highly be possible considering how far he has gain grounds in the constituency and some of the below factors:
- His Message
Mr. Amewu’s message is very simple – “This is not politics: is all about development”. This is the exact message Mr Amewu is going into the 2020 election with and it seems to have sunk deep into the mind of the youth, men, women and all corners of the constituency and beyond.
His message though very short and simple had penetrated even the minds and heart 
of member of the opposition NDC who have taken to social media to circulate “This is not politics: is all about development”. With his brief profile and achievement in the constituency, they are sharing the message and their aim is also as simple as Amewu’s message “We just want development in our community. It does not matter the party the person represents”,– an NDC activist in the Hohoe Constituency told the Awake Election Watch.
Another NDC member in the neighbouring Afadjato South Constituency agrees “Now it’s No more a party matter, it is a business for development”
According to them, Mr Amewu promised to bring massive development to Hohoe Constituency not only for the benefit of the NPP members but the whole of the people. “With all these street light Mr Amewu has brought, are they only benefiting NPP people? No., those boreholes he did, is the water only being used by NPP people? No!” – They quizzed and answered
“JPA4HOHOE, JPA4DEVELOPMENT”
From these short quotes one will agree that Mr. Amewu’s message that caught our attention, which his opponent at the NDC side might not take note of has already sunk! Deep!
- His Activities
According to some of the electorates these are some of the few activities of Mr. Peter Amewu which has won their hearts:
- Mechanized boreholes in every community where there’s no portable water in Hohoe
- Extension of electricity to every corner of Hohoe where there’s no light including street lights.
- Payment of bills for about 500 SHS graduates whose result were blocked by their schools due to the inability to pay fees.
- Construction of mini-hydro, Bue power in Hohoe constituency at Alavanyo Abehenease to generate hydroelectricity for Hohoe. He is still working on building another on the Wli Waterfalls and another on River Dayi.
- He has lobbied and is constructing an ultra-modern sports complex including, boxing arena, swimming pool, football pitch of international standard.
- The construction of 10.2 Kilometres of town roads in Hohoe.
- The Hohoe bungalow road is tiled (first coat) Fodome- Gbledi roads, Wli Todzi roads, Zongo Picnic To Bla roads and many more
Besides those his initiated projects, he is also said to have been actively engaging the youth in community-based activities. Mr. Amewu is said to have tasked some young people who move from house-to-house called “Home-to-Home Visiting” and during the exercise are to listened to the needs of people.
“Recently, when we went out, we came across this young lady who was seriously ill and needed medical attention. After informing him [Mr. Amewu], he quick arranged for an ambulance which transported the young lady to Accra and currently receiving medial treatment – this is what we are talking about” – a lady who is a member of the Home-To-Home Visit told Awake EW
Recently in the news, it was reported that Mr. Peter Amewu has promised “One-Teacher-One-Laptop” if he wins.
- The Oti Region creation factor
Mr. Peter Amewu is believed to have played a key role in supporting the government programme in the creation of Oti Region. From our analysis, in previous elections, Mr. Peter Amewu’s defeat and or low votes aside NPP-NDC factor, loses significant votes from the Akpafu, Satrokofi, Lekpe and Lolobi Traditional Areas who are now caved out of Hohoe Constituency.
This means there is a higher possibility of Mr. Amewu wrestling “Boot-for-Boot” with the NDC’s parliamentary, Prof. Margaret Kwaku on a level playing field considering the fact that Prof. Kwaku is also contesting for the first and worse of all she hails from Likpe in the now Oti Region. Defiantly, the NDC is going the lose all the NDC votes from the above four traditional areas who always contribute greatly to Mr. Peter Amewu’s defeat.
What the NDC might want to use against him?
Your guess is as good as ours,
– The PDS scandal! Will the NDC be able to procure anything that can directly link Mr Amewu’s personal negligence and or action that led the PDS scandal?
– The Galamsey! Will the NDC be able to procure any evidence to link Mr Amewu though he left that office before the Galamsey excavators messing allegations?
Will the above be able to change the current minds of the people in the likely event that the NDC wishes to use them as a tool? Well! Let’s see what happens along the line as we will keep our eye on the Hohoe Constituency and report issues to you once every three months till December 7, 2020 cock crows.
Watch out for Awake Election Watch short video documentaries soon.
By:
Efo Korsi Senyo, Editor – senyo@amnafrica.com (WhatsApp: +233249155003)
Joy Kizito Gobey, Reporter – joy@amnafrica.com
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