The Member of Parliament for Upper Manya Krobo, Bismark Tetteh Nyarko, has declared that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will retain the parliamentary seat in the December 7 elections, asserting that the seat will never return to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Addressing supporters during the filing of his nomination forms at the Electoral Commission’s office in Asesewa on Monday, Mr. Nyarko stressed on the NDC’s commitment to maintaining the seat.

He reflected on the party’s 2016 loss but emphasized their recovery in 2020 when he won with 14,967 votes (54.04%) against the incumbent NPP MP, Joseph Tetteh, who polled 12,307 votes (44.44%).

“There was one change in 2016 when we lost this seat, and in 2020 we reorganized ourselves and won it back massively. This time around, we are going to increase our votes, especially for the Presidency, so this seat is never going to go back to the NPP,” Mr. Nyarko said.

The MP urged his constituents to remain focused on the campaign, promoting the NDC’s “People’s Manifesto,” which was recently launched in Winneba. “We just came to file my nomination for the victory ahead of us on 7th December 2024. The campaign is going to continue right here to ensure victory for the NDC, President John Dramani Mahama, and myself, Bismark Tetteh Nyarko, to retain this seat for the good people of Upper Manya Krobo,” he added.

Hon. Bismark Tetteh Nyarko also called out the NPP for alleged violent behavior in the constituency, warning that the NDC would not tolerate any further intimidation. “The NPP has resorted to fighting, stoning, and beating people in Upper Manya because they know they will not win the seat again. We are not going to tolerate any nonsense in Upper Manya again,” he warned. “We are for peace, but there must be justice before peace can be achieved.”

Meanwhile, Godson Amartey, a former member of the NPP Communication Team in Upper Manya Krobo, has publicly defected to the NDC, citing Hon. Nyarko’s leadership as the reason.

“My defection was a result of the leadership competencies of Hon. Bismark Tetteh Nyarko and the NDC’s ability to steer the affairs of the country better than the abysmal performance of the current government,” Amartey said.

He also revealed that about 900 NPP members in the constituency are disappointed in the government’s performance but have yet to publicly declare their defection.