He specifically praised Akufo-Addo’s leadership during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, asserting that the situation could have been worse under a different president.

Asenso Boakye expressed the belief that Ghanaians will both celebrate and feel the absence of Akufo-Addo for his distinctive governance in the upcoming years.

During an interview on Starr FM on February 1, 2024, when questioned about the comparison between Kufour and Akufo-Addo in terms of presidency, Asenso Boakye confidently described Akufo-Addo as the superior president.

He elaborated on his stance by highlighting that while former President Kufour had also served as the leader of the NPP, Akufo-Addo’s current circumstances and the decisions made under his leadership set him apart as the optimal choice.

“Kufour has played his part and he has left and Akufo-Addo is actually on it. The decisions and the circumstances under his leadership are totally different from those of President Kufour.

“I’ll choose Akufo-Addo because he has worked directly and I know him and I’ve benefitted from his leadership, his wise counsel, and everything, even though President Kufour is also more like a father to me.”

Source: Citi News

In the spotlight is the incumbent MP, a first-timer, Francis Asenso-Boakye, engaged in a heated battle against Rapheal Agyapong, the brother of Kennedy Agyapong.

GhanaWeb explores the profiles of these contenders.

Francis Asenso-Boakye

Francis Asenso-Boakye is a Ghanaian politician and businessman, currently serving as the Minister for Works and Housing. He secured his position within the New Patriotic Party by defeating the incumbent Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency in Kumasi, Daniel Okyem Aboagye.

Born in Kumasi and hailing from Bantama in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Asenso-Boakye was a student activist during his time at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

He played a significant role in the Tertiary Students Confederacy of the New Patriotic Party (TESCON), the party’s tertiary students’ wing.

Asenso-Boakye holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration, earned as a Rotary Scholar at Michigan State University in the United States. His professional journey includes roles at Delta Acquisitions and Development, the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, Michigan House of Representatives, Global Media Alliance, Tema Export Processing Zone, Ghana Free Zones Board, and Ghana Investment Promotion Center.

Appointed in January 2017 as Deputy Chief of Staff and political assistant at the Flagstaff House by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Asenso-Boakye also emerged victorious in the Bantama NPP primaries against incumbent Daniel Okyem Aboagye in the 2020 general elections.

Ralph Kwame Agyapong

Ralph Kwame Agyapong, 42, is a lawyer affiliated with Kwame Gyan & Associates and the brother of Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central. Agyapong, who holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of London, confirmed his intention to contest in the parliamentary primaries for the NPP in the Bantama constituency.

He picked his nomination forms this morning; he confirmed in an interview with Ghanaweb’s Nimatu Yakubu Atouyese,

Ralph Agyapong disclosed that the grassroots support for his candidacy became evident as people began circulating his campaign posters on social media platforms.

He disclosed seeking guidance from his brother, Kennedy Agyapong, who gave his blessing for him to contest and secure victory.

Friction between Kennedy Agyapong and Asenso-Boakye has been noted, stemming from remarks made by the latter during the NPP presidential primaries in which Kennedy was a contender.

Source: Ghanaweb.com