The Ledzokuku constituency in the Greater Accra Region has always been a place of interest for political observers, and this weekend’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries will once again draw attention to the area. Incumbent MP Benjamin Narteh Ayiku is facing competition from private businessman and party stalwart Bernard Martei Korley.
Ayiku, who is also a philanthropist and founder and CEO of the Maxxon Filling Station chain, aims to change the lives of the vulnerable and less privileged in society if re-elected. Meanwhile, Korley has been rallying party executives to generate a policy document aimed at fostering healthy relationships among party members at all levels.
The Ledzokuku parliamentary seat is known as a swing seat, with no MP having served beyond one term except for Nii Adjei Boye Sekan, who won the seat in 1992 (when the NPP boycotted the election) and again in 1996.
However, there are beliefs that Sekan would not have won the seat for the second time had the NPP not boycotted the 1992 elections. The constituency has a history of changing its mind and not retaining MPs beyond one term.
Despite this, the NDC in Ledzokuku aims to present a united front to retain the parliamentary seat and win the presidential election in 2024. For the most part, the constituency chairman has been tight-lipped about who is likely to win the primaries, saying that the focus is on rallying behind whichever candidate emerges victorious.
All in all, this weekend’s NDC primaries in Ledzokuku will be closely watched as the constituents decide who will represent them in the next parliamentary elections.