Tarkwa Retains MP With 96% Landslide Endorsement

The Member of Parliamentary (MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, George Mireku Duker, over the weekend, stunned his contenders by winning the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary primaries with a landslide victory.

Per the official results announced by the Electoral Commission (EC), the MP pulled 1,187 votes representing 96 per cent, out of the 1,256 total votes cast, to whip his contenders.

His two contenders, Gordon Opoku Boateng and Francis Anrisi Eliason, on the other hand, struggled to garner22and46votesrespectively,with one rejected ballot.

Even though the chances of the MP retaining his candidature did not come as a surprise, what however stunned many, particularly his opponents, was the overwhelming margin of votes he pulled.

Interestingly, even before counting of the ballots could be done for results to be declared, the two contenders were nowhere to be found at the event.

With the emphatic victory, Mr. Duker, who currently doubles as Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, will be seeking his third term in parliament in this year’s general election, having made his debut appearance on the constituency’s political scene in 2016.

The Saturday’s election, which was held at the University of Mines and Technology (UMAT) campus, was generally peaceful.

The Anchor, in its previous edition, reported how delegates of Tarkwa-Nsuaem declared in unison their readiness to retain the MP for another four more years.

The delegates, who cited several reasons for their resolve to retain the lawmaker, said they are determined not to derail the pace of massive infrastructural development ongoing in the constituency under his leadership.

They maintained Mr. Duker had served his constituents well by dint of hard work and was in the position to bring in more development projects, compared to the other contenders in the race.

On the lips of many ahead of the primaries, they said it would be a betrayal of trust, if the delegates give the MP anything less than 80 percent.

Achievements

Most of the delegates, who took turns to tout the achievements of the MP, said beyond lobbying for development projects, the MP had been impacting the lives of individuals from his personal resources over the years.

They cited for example that, under his tenure, the constituency witnessed construction of road projects, health facilities like CHIPS Compound, sports development, construction of schools with modern toilet facilities, Astro turf, scholarship programmes for brilliant but needy students, water, cash assistance, teachers award scheme and many others.

Road projects

For many, including the delegates, the sheer determination by the MP through intensive lobby made it possible for the ongoing 66-kilometer Tarkwa to Agona-Nkwanta road reconstruction project being carried out by Gabriel Couto-Rango Construction, a Portuguese construction company.

The first phase has been asphalted and facilitating the smooth movement of people, goods and services.

Recall prior to that, the deplorable nature of the road pushed chiefs and people in the Tarkwa area to stage several protests during which they blocked the stretch, which brought major economic activities to a standstill.

Despite being predominantly a mining area, the Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency for years had a very terrible road network.

But thanks to the intervention of the MP, many road projects have been lobbied for with construction works ongoing at various sites. Some of the projects have also been completed and commissioned while others are ongoing and various stages of completion.

Teachers’ Awards Scheme

Mr. Duker is one of the few MPs to have instituted an annual teacher awards scheme whereby teachers in the area who distinguish themselves and bring visible results and improvement in the fields of work are honoured.

The awards programme, dubbed Duker Teachers’ Awards, meant to celebrate, honor and motivate extraordinary teachers in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, is supervised by eminent personalities,

This year will the third year, since its inception in 2022.

Last year’s overall winner Edina Amihere of the Trakwa Senior High School, took home a $14, 500 Suzuki Swift vehicle and the overall teacher was given a brand-new vehicle to enhance their work and movement.

Other winners were presented with various electronic appliances including deep freezers, television sets placards etc. Last year, the MP announced plans to initiate similar awards programme for health workers in the constituency.

Sports development

The MP is also known for his love for sports. He has over the years invested in sporting activities and unconditionally supported the Ghana premier league winner, Medeama Sporting Club, which is based in his constituency.

He is also credited for facilitating the construction of the Tarkwa and Aboso (T&A) Stadium by mining giant, Gold Fields Ghana Limited, at the cost of over US$13 million. The edifice is currently over 90 per cent done and is expected to be handed over to Tarkwa Municipal Assembly by early this year.

For countless times, the MP has donated cash amounts to support the Medeama club, which is currently playing in the CAF champions league. He has on a couple of times travelled with the team to encourage and motivate them.

Source: http://Anchorghana.com