By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
A heated debate has emerged in Ghana’s political landscape regarding the vacant parliamentary seat in Akwatia, following the passing of the Member of Parliament, Ernest Kumi.
Posters bearing the name and image of the late MP’s widow have surfaced, hinting at a possible bid for the Akwatia seat on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
However, Ellen Ama Daaku, a member of the New Patriotic Party, NPP, Communications Team, has pushed back against the move. She maintains that the widow has expressed no interest in contesting the seat and should not be pressured into doing so—especially given her recent bereavement and position as a young widow.
‘’You think a young widow is interested in going to carry all that burden?’’, she asked on the GTV breakfast show.
She emphasized that while there have been past instances where the wives of deceased MPs stepped into their husbands’ roles, these were not mandatory precedents. According to Madam Daaku, those women had been politically active or had supported their husbands’ political work — a situation that does not apply in the case of Ernest Kumi’s widow.
The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, weighed in on the issue in Parliament yesterday criticizing the Minority for seeming to rush into declaring a candidate before the funeral has even taken place. This comment sparked a walkout by the Minority in Parliament, with them accusing the Majority Leader of being insensitive.
The situation has highlighted the complexities of political succession and the challenges faced by parties in selecting candidates for vacant seats. As the debate continues, the question remains whether the widow will ultimately decide to pursue the parliamentary seat or if another candidate will emerge.
