Nana Akua Afriyie, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2024 parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma North, has issued an unqualified apology to the party's leadership for disregarding a directive not to contest the recent re-run in the constituency.
Speaking after the issue was addressed at an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Alisa Hotel, Akua Afriyie confirmed that she had apologized but did not explicitly state whether she regretted defying the party’s instructions.
Her actions drew criticism from party ranks, particularly after the NPP lost the seat to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). Joseph Osei-Owusu, former MP for Bekwai and chairman of the NPP’s planning committee, acknowledged the apology had been accepted in good faith but admitted the incident had caused internal unease.
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“The apology was taken in good faith. It was just to ensure that we respect the structures of the party in the future,” Osei-Owusu stated. “However, her decision did create confusion in the eyes of the public and did not reflect well on the party.”
In the closely contested re-run, NDC candidate Ewurabena Aubynn made history by winning the seat for the first time in the Fourth Republic. She polled 34,090 votes, narrowly edging out the NPP’s Akua Afriyie, who secured 33,881 votes.
“A win was expected because we worked so hard,” an elated Aubynn told journalists after her victory.
The Ablekuma North re-run was held following a protracted dispute over the original December 2024 parliamentary results. Violence at the constituency’s collation centre led to the suspension of counting from 19 polling stations.
The High Court later ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to conclude the process. However, persistent delays and security concerns eventually led the EC to organize a re-run in the affected areas.
The loss marks a significant blow for the NPP in a constituency it had held since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, ending decades of dominance.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem