Ralph Poku-Adusei, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Bekwai, has declared with confidence that he faced no opposition in the primary from retired Commissioner of Police (COP) George Alex Mensah.
Even though it was generally anticipated that COP Mensah would win with the support of the sitting MP, Joseph Osei-Owusu, Mr. Poku-Adusei won with 662 votes, while the retired commissioner received 245 votes.
Henry Opoku-Ware and Kingsley Opoku Agyemang, the other candidates, received 30 and 1 votes, respectively. The primary saw the unexpected result of COP Mensah losing despite the current MP’s public support. Four candidates ran to succeed Joseph Osei-Owusu, who decided not to seek reelection.
During an Eyewitness News interview with Selorm Adonoo in 2015, Mr. Poku-Adusei stated that he was prepared to lead the constituency for a long time.
He underlined that COP Mensah entered the race relatively late because it had been known since the previous general elections that Mr. Osei-Owusu had decided not to run for reelection.
“I believe that COP Mensah entered the race at a bit of a later date than intended. However, word had already spread that Hon. Osei-Owusu would not be running for office. It was evident immediately following the elections that he would not run for office again in 2023 or 2024, contrary to what was first thought. I participated in the race the entire time.
When I realized that I would have the chance to help the Bekwai people one day, I believe it was in 2015. That is when my preparation for this contest began.
“I began getting ready for that. From a logistical, financial, and other standpoint, COP Mensah felt that winning was out of the question. I had prepared myself for the role that I hold now,” he said.
