Tarkwa-Nsuaem NPP Primary Heats Up As Fiifi Boafo Enters Race and Mireku Duker Eyes Return

The New Patriotic Party's internal politics in the Western Region are set for a lively contest, as former COCOBOD Director of Public Affairs Fiifi Boafo formally declares his intention to compete in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem constituency's parliamentary primaries. His entry into the race signals the beginning of what could become one of the more competitive NPP internal battles ahead of the next general election.

Two Familiar Names, One Constituency Ticket

Boafo is no stranger to the NPP's communications landscape. Having served as a prominent voice for the Ghana Cocoa Board, he brings public relations experience and a recognisable profile within party circles. He is now seeking to translate that visibility into grassroots electoral support in Tarkwa-Nsuaem.

At the same time, reports emerging from the constituency suggest that George Mireku Duker, the area's former Member of Parliament, is also planning a return to contest the seat he previously held. Duker lost the Tarkwa-Nsuaem seat to the National Democratic Congress's Salifu Taylor in the 2024 general election — a defeat that was part of the broader NPP losses that saw the party hand over power to John Mahama's NDC.

Should both men formalise their candidacies, the NPP primary in Tarkwa-Nsuaem will effectively become a contest between continuity and renewal — a returning former MP hoping to reclaim lost ground versus a new aspirant pitching himself as a fresh alternative capable of winning back the seat for the party.

What This Means for the NPP in the Western Region

Tarkwa-Nsuaem is a constituency of significant economic importance. Located in the heart of Ghana's gold mining belt in the Western Region, the area has long been a battleground seat where both major parties have invested considerable campaign energy. The NPP's loss of the seat in the last election makes recapturing it a priority, and the choice of candidate at the primaries stage will be critical.

For the NPP nationally, the party is currently in opposition and working to rebuild its structures and identify strong candidates across the country. Competitive primaries, while sometimes divisive, can also energise local party machinery — provided the process is managed transparently and the eventual loser rallies behind the winner.

The Tarkwa-Nsuaem contest also reflects a wider pattern playing out across the NPP, where individuals who lost parliamentary seats in 2024 are signalling their desire to run again, sometimes facing competition from aspirants who believe the party needs new faces to reconnect with voters.

Party Supporters Watch and Wait

Constituency-level NPP members and delegates in Tarkwa-Nsuaem are already paying close attention as the field takes shape. The delegate vote in NPP primaries tends to favour candidates with strong grassroots networks and the ability to demonstrate broad support within the party's card-bearing membership.

• Fiifi Boafo brings communications expertise and name recognition from his COCOBOD role, which could prove appealing to delegates looking for a candidate who can effectively prosecute the NPP's message on the campaign trail.
• George Mireku Duker, as a former MP, holds the advantage of incumbency experience and familiarity with the constituency's specific challenges and expectations.

As the NPP's timetable for internal elections becomes clearer, more aspirants may yet enter the Tarkwa-Nsuaem race. For now, all eyes in the constituency are on whether Mireku Duker will make his comeback bid official — and how the two frontrunners will distinguish themselves to the delegates who will ultimately decide the NPP's parliamentary candidate for the seat.