Akufo-Addo’s Former Legal Counsel Enters NPP Race For Ablekuma West Seat

Kow Abaka Essuman, who served as legal counsel to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has formally entered the race for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidacy in Ablekuma West ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Essuman announced that he had submitted his expression of interest at 7:11am on Saturday, November 7, which was also his birthday. He accompanied the announcement on X with a receipt showing payment of the GH¢5,000 application fee required from aspirants.

Explaining the decision, he said it followed consultations with members of the party, his family and prayer. He also indicated that he would respect the NPP’s instructions and wait for the official timetable and guidelines governing the selection process.

His entry adds another dimension to the NPP’s efforts to identify parliamentary candidates for the next general election. The party has indicated that its candidate search is intended to identify individuals capable of winning seats in 2028, rather than focusing solely on who emerges victorious in internal primaries.

Ablekuma West is among the constituencies in the Greater Accra Region that the NPP lost during the 2024 elections. The party’s former parliamentary candidate, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, was defeated by the National Democratic Congress’ Rev Kweku Addo.

Official figures from the contest showed that Addo secured 31,866 votes, while Owusu-Ekuful obtained 26,575. The outcome handed the NDC control of the seat and left the NPP with the task of rebuilding its position ahead of the next election.

Essuman is not new to party activities in the constituency. He has served as a polling station chairman and previously made his ambition known to NPP supporters.

In September, he expressed confidence that the party could reclaim Ablekuma West in 2028, predicting that it would win the constituency by a wide margin.

His political ambitions come after several years in government service. Essuman served as Legal Counsel to the President from January 2021 to January 2025. He also became Acting Secretary to the President in October 2024.

Meanwhile, the NPP’s 2028 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has spoken about the party’s plan to search for potential candidates across constituencies, with an emphasis on their ability to compete successfully in general elections.

Essuman’s submission of his expression of interest marks the beginning of his formal bid, but he will still have to go through the party’s selection process before securing the NPP’s parliamentary ticket for Ablekuma West.

Source: https://x.com/tv3_ghana/status/2119327023843922087?s=46

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