Baba Ali Yussif, the New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election, has stated that Baba Jamal, a figure associated with opposition politics, is not a threat to the party’s success in the contest. Yussif made the remarks during an interview as political activity in the constituency increases ahead of the by-election scheduled by the Electoral Commission. His comments underlined his belief in the strength of his own campaign and the support he is building among voters.
The upcoming by-election follows the death of the late Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East, which left the seat vacant and prompted the need for a new representative. The New Patriotic Party selected Yussif as its candidate after internal consultations and consensus building among party leaders and delegates who believe he is well placed to retain the seat for the party.
In the interview, Yussif emphasised his commitment to focusing on his campaign strategy rather than dwelling on his opponents. He said his effort will be on engaging directly with residents of the constituency, listening to their concerns, and communicating his plans for development. He believes that by focusing on constructive engagement and solid messaging, he can build the momentum needed to secure victory.
Baba Jamal’s political profile includes past experience as a Member of Parliament for a different constituency and involvement in national politics with an opposition party. However, Yussif downplayed any suggestion that this background poses a significant risk to the NPP’s prospects in Ayawaso East.
As the by-election approaches, both major parties and their candidates are intensifying outreach, campaigning and engagement with voters in different parts of the constituency. Voter priorities such as local development, infrastructure, jobs and community services are expected to be key themes in campaign discussions in the coming weeks.
