With just a month remaining until the December polls, Ghanaians are gearing up to elect a new set of parliamentarians and the 9th president of the Republic. Political parties are ramping up their campaign activities across the nation, and the Volta Region is no exception.
Since April 2024, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the presidential candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has made over five visits to the region to bolster his campaign. Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama, leading the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has been extensively traveling throughout the region to communicate his vision for a return to power.
As both major parties, along with other political groups and independent candidates, intensify their campaigns, the question arises: Who will the people of the Volta Region support this election season—the NDC, NPP, or another party?
Traditionally, the Volta Region has been a stronghold for the NDC, earning the nickname “the party’s world bank.” However, there are signs that this unwavering support may be waning, as the NPP increasingly gains traction—an unsettling development for the NDC.
Historically, the NPP has seen a gradual rise in votes from the region, especially since the 2016 general elections. In the 2016 elections, the NPP secured 60,802 votes, amounting to 10.81% of the total. By the 2020 elections, this figure climbed to 101,084 votes, or 14.1%, reflecting a 3.3% increase. Party leaders in the region regard this as a significant milestone.
At the constituency level, the NPP has also noted growth in presidential votes during major elections. For instance, in the Adaklu constituency, NPP votes surged from 972 in 2016 to 1,967 in 2020. Similarly, Akatsi South saw votes rise from 2,235 to 3,754, and Agortime Ziope experienced an increase from 1,394 to 2,766 during the same period. In Akatsi North, votes jumped from 1,222 to 2,784, and in Akatsi South, they climbed from 3,260 to 4,581.
In the Anlo constituency, NPP votes increased significantly from 2,393 in 2016 to 4,990 in 2020. The party also made notable gains in Keta, traditionally an NDC stronghold, where votes rose from 1,670 to 4,603. In Central Tongu, the NPP’s votes grew from 2,987 to 3,951, while in South Tongu, they rose from 3,142 to 4,249.
In Ho Central, the region’s political heart, NPP votes surged from 5,998 in 2016 to 8,715 in 2020. Neighboring Ho West saw an increase from 3,256 to 5,468 votes. The NPP’s remarkable performance in Hohoe, led by Railway Minister John Peter Amewu, boosted votes from 6,869 in 2016 to an impressive 14,389 in 2020, making Amewu the first NPP MP elected from the Volta Region.
In Ketu North, NPP votes rose from 9,230 to 14,330, while Ketu South saw an increase from 7,590 to 10,949. The NPP also improved its standing in Kpando, with votes going from 2,631 to 3,682, and in North Dayi, where votes increased from 1,525 to 2,867. North Tongu saw a modest rise from 2,843 to 4,149, and South Dayi’s votes grew from 1,585 to 2,890.
The NPP’s performance in Keta, Ketu North, Ketu South, and Hohoe positions them favorably ahead of the upcoming elections.
In the parliamentary elections, NPP candidates in the region also showed improved results in 2020 compared to 2016, while the NDC experienced declines in many constituencies.
These statistics cast doubt on the Volta Region’s status as the NDC’s “world bank.” As the December elections approach, it remains to be seen how voting patterns will unfold in the region. Previous election results suggest the NPP is making inroads into what was once an NDC stronghold.
As the elections draw nearer, the NDC must bolster its efforts in the region, while the NPP needs to continue its push for increased support. Ensuring a peaceful election is paramount, and several Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have begun organizing events to educate the public.
During a recent training session for journalists organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Eric Kofi Dzakpasu, the Volta Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, urged journalists and media personnel to refrain from declaring election results prematurely. He called for both individual and collective efforts to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
