More MPs lose seats – Investigation

General News on Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-06-12

About 49.5 percent of Ghanaians will vote against their poor results if the elections took place today, revealed a new investigation report.

The survey, conducted by the Department of Political Science of the University of Ghana, showed that 42.6% of respondents were ready to retain their MPs, 7.9% of them remaining undecided.

In addition, a majority of respondents, representing 46.7% of those surveyed, do not want their current MPs to stand in the 2020 general election, while 42.4% want their deputies to challenge 10.9% of their candidates. .

Regional level

In two regions, 50% or more would vote for incumbents: Volta (56.4%) and Oti (50.0%), the report says.

"In nine other countries, 40% or more would vote for incumbents: Savannah (48.7%), Ashanti (45.7%), Bono East (45.7%), Ahafo (45.5%), Northern ( 45.3%). North West (45.2%), Upper West (42.7%), East (41.7%) and Central (40.7%). "

"In the other five, only 30% or more would vote for the incumbents: Occidental (38.5%), Bono (35.7%), Upper East (35.3%), Greater Accra (34.5%) and North East (32.9%). "

"In four regions, more than 10% were undecided: North West (16.0%), Northeast (14.1%), Upper East (10.2%) and Savannah (10.0%)", he added.

NPP MPs

The region enjoying the greatest support for the deputies in place, if elections were held today, is the Oti (66.0%), where deputies occupy a single seat.

In the three regions with the highest number of seats, support for incumbents was lower: Ashanti – 44 seats (45.8%), Eastern 27 (42.3%) and Grand Accra – 21 seats (31 , 3%). ).

In four regions, more than 10% were undecided: Upper East (10.1%), Greater Accra (10.5%), Western North (16.3%) and North East (17.6%).

NDC Deputies

The region receiving the most support for NDC candidates, if elections were held today, is Ahafo (60.4%) where the NDC has two seats.

In the three regions with the highest number of seats for the NDC, support to incumbents was lower: Volta (18 seats) (56.4%), Grand Accra (13 seats) (39.5%) ) and Upper East 12 (36.9 percent). In five regions, more than 10% were undecided: the Upper East (10.1%), the Northeast (10.6%), the East (13.1%), the Northwest ( 15.9%) and the Center (16.2%).

MEPs risk losing their seats

At the same time, Mr. Sammy Obeng, executive director of the Parliamentary Network for Africa, said that recent research by the political science department of the University of Ghana should be a warning to parliamentarians and Ghanaians.

Speaking in Eyewitness News on Citi FM, based in Accra, Obeng said the report was a cause of major concern. He said, "I think MPs should be extremely worried.

Ghanaians should also be extremely worried. Predicting that 180 MPs may lose their seats in the next election is a worrying trend. "We should worry.

MPs should begin reviewing their notes on how to create a balance between the chambers and constituencies as part of their work, so that none of its aspects suffers.

They (MPs) are penalized for not going to their constituencies, but structures have been put in place in Parliament and MPs must take advantage of them to make themselves visible to voters.

In the age of technology, they must make their constituents understand what they are doing as MPs, "he added.