Next year will be another election for the selection of probably a new president and the election of parliamentarians for the 7th parliament under the 4th republic.
The various political parties are making preparations toward this all important event. The New Patriotic Party, the leading opposition party has already elected its flag bearer and is yet to elect its parliamentary candidates for the 2016 National Elections which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 13th of June 2015 at the various constituencies.
The Berekum Municipality has two constituencies, Berekum East and Berekum West. These two seat are occupied by the NPP namely Hon. Dr. Kwabena Twum Nuama and Hon. Kwaku Agyenim Boateng respectively.
Hon Kwaku Agyenim Boateng of Berekum West will be entering his third term in parliament if he succeeds in the primaries and eventually the 2016 elections. On the other hand, Dr Kwabena Twum Nuama will be entering his second term if he succeeds.
A number of people thought with these two seats the incumbent would not have been contested, that they would have gone unopposed, but it turns out not to be so. The Berekum West seat is being contested by three other candidates, Clement Amofa Boakye, Richard Asante Yeboah and CPT. RTD. Nkrabea Effah Dartey (a former member of parliament of Berekum, 2000-2008).
The incumbent Hon Kwaku Agyenim Boateng who is seeking for a third term to parliament became the MP of Berekum in 2008 after a keen contest both within the party and against the opposition parties at the time. He was reelected unopposed to represent the Berekum West constituency after the splitting of the constituencies to East and West prior the 2012 General Elections . He had beaten his main opponent from the NDC, Hon. Lord Oppong Stephen twice to take and maintain the seat.
He has done a number of developmental projects in the Berekum municipality and his new constituency. He introduced the MP's vacation classes and saw thousands of school children enjoying free vacation classes during their long vacation, every year. He also started a skills development center which is yet to be completed. He has done a number of things which he believes has brought relief and improved the lives of his people and thus seek reelection.
Clement Amofa Boakye has been an assemblyman for a number of years now, he had brought a number of initiatives to the people to represent. Some key initiatives by him include the Youth in Agricultural program he has put in place to encourage the youth in agriculture by providing them with various inputs. He has indeed demonstrated that any youth can enter into agriculture irrespective of their profession which he himself has demonstrated by being a one-time best pepper farmer in the Berekum municipality, though a business tutor at KNUST. He has also organized eye screening exercise, rehabilitation of dilapidated class room blocks in the Koraso Township. He was also a key figure in the organization of a peace demonstration by the youth of Berekum from all divides (Berekum for progress) to accelerate the dispute resolution in the chieftaincy dispute in Berekum, which indeed had an impact. He has a great vision in leading the constituency.
Richard Asante Yeboah who hails from Berekum, had his basic and secondary education in Berekum. He is a very instrumental member of the NPP who is popularly know to have appeared on MultiTV political show, the Caucus and on other media platforms defending and promoting the NPP. He is indeed a member of the NPP national communication team. He has a vision to take the constituency to higher pedestal. He also brings his knowledge in communication to help the party win power in the 2016 general elections both at the constituency and presidential levels.
Hon Nkranbea Effah Dartey lost his seat to the incumbent in 2008. He brought a number of initiatives and developmental projects to Berekum during his tenure such as the rehabilitation of the old Sunyani road, the old hospital road and many others. He has come back to contest the seat again since he believes he is the best candidate to lead the constituency to victory in 2016. He also has a profound level of experience in politics and hope to use that to his advantage and to the party to gain power in 2016.
All is set for the June 13 primaries, where one of these candidates will to be elected to lead the constituency to victory in 2016.
