Medical doctor and philanthropist, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah has become the first National Democratic Congress (NDC) member to win the Essikado-Ketan seat, ending the New Patriotic Party’s two-decade-old grip on the constituency.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah beat Charles Bissue of the NPP to win the seat for the NDC in Saturday’s elections and bring her closer to realising a promise President-elect John Dramani Mahama made to the people of the constituency during campaigning.
After showering praises on Dr Ayensu-Danquah for her remarkable brilliance, philanthropic work and humane nature, then former President Mahama urged the constituents to vote her into Parliament for him to add her to his list of ministers or appointees in government.
The now President-elect said during a campaign rally in Kojokrom that Dr Ayensu-Danquah had the appropriate personality, skills and competence to serve in his future government, and that the people needed to vote her into Parliament for him to fulfil his promise.
With the NDC manifesto promising to give at least 30% of ministerial and other appointments to women, President Mahama said it was easier to see Dr Ayensu-Danquahz an accomplished woman serving in his government should she win the seat.
In an apparent response, the constituents voted massively for the humanitarian surgeon and educationist at this year’s polls.
She polled 26,166 votes against Mr Bissue’s 17,754 votes to open a more than 8,000 vote difference. Her win also upset the Bissues as wife of Mr Bissue, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei also lost has parliamentary contest in the Okaikoi North Constituency.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah’s win added to similar upsets that the NDC made across the country, resulting in the widest parliamentary majority in over two decades and giving President-elect Mahama the needed comfort to undertake reforms.
Beyond the unprecedented win for Dr Ayensu-Danquah, analysts say the win has brought her closer to being included in Presient-elect Mahama’s government that will have the herculean task of resetting the country from eight years of mismanagement in almost all sectors.
As a medical practitioner and philanthropist, the MP-elect’s longstanding experience of working in the United States of America and Ghana could come in handy in key sectors, including in health, gender and children affairs and social protection where extreme competence and expertise will be needed to implement the NDC’s manifesto proposals to bring quick relief to the citizens.
Constituents of Essikado-Ketan are also eager to see how President-elect Mahama redeems his promise to them as he inches closer to setting up his administration after the January 7, 2025 inauguration.
