Accra: Following the arrest and detention of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, an old video has emerged of the Deputy Communications Officer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ernest Owusu Bempeh, predicting a by-election for the constituency.
According to Ghana Web, in the video from an interview prior to the 2024 election, Owusu Bempeh suggested a by-election would occur if the independent candidate won in Asante Akyem North. Although he did not specifically mention Ohene Kwame Frimpong by name, his statements implied a prediction of future political events in the constituency.
Owusu Bempeh cautioned voters against supporting the independent candidate, stating that such a vote would lead to a by-election within a year. His remarks highlighted potential political instability, urging constituents not to 'gamble' with their votes. He emphasized his certainty about the prediction, inviting the journalist to note the date as evidence of his foresight.
Indeed, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, the sole independent candidate, emerged victorious in the 2024 parliamentary election for Asante Akyem North. He secured 26,926 votes, accounting for approximately 70% of the total votes cast, defeating the NPP's Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi and the NDC's Kofi Asamoah. Frimpong ran as an independent after losing the NPP primaries to Appiah-Kubi.
The recent arrest of Ohene Kwame Frimpong has stirred significant attention. Reports indicate that Frimpong was detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam while en route to London. His arrest was executed by Dutch authorities following a warrant issued by the United States government, which accuses him of involvement in financial crimes, including money laundering and 'romance scams' totaling around US$32 million. Frimpong has denied these allegations.