Brief profile of the Sissala east constituency
The Sissala East Municipal District, located in the Upper West Region, has been a pivotal swing constituency since its creation in 2004. Initially part of the larger Sissala District, the constituency was split to create Sissala East and Sissala West, with Tumu serving as the municipal capital. The region’s unique electoral history reveals a tendency to vote out Members of Parliament (MPs) after a single term in office, making it one of the most unpredictable districts in Ghana’s political landscape.
Voting Pattern and Historical Overview
Sissala East, currently represented by Hon. Issahaku Amidu Chinnia, Deputy Minister of Sanitation, has demonstrated fluctuating loyalties between the NPP, NDC, and the PNC.
The PNC holds a significant place in the constituency’s history, largely due to the legacy of Dr. Hilla Limann, Ghana’s only president from the Sissala enclave under the ticket of PNC . Don’t forget the late Dr. Hilla Limann was from Gwullo now capital of sissala west district, as a result, the party has consistently posed a third force in the Sissala constituencies and at times wins the parliamentary seat.
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A prominent figure in Sissala East political landscape is Hon. Moses Dani Baah, who won the seat under the PNC in 1996 and 2000 in the then Sissala district and 2004 in the now Sissala east district and remains a key political personality.
However, the constituency’s trend of not re-electing MPs has continued to this day, with no MP serving more than one term since its creation.
The 2024 Election: A Battle for Control
In the upcoming 2024 general elections, the race will once again see Hon. Issahaku Amidu Chinnia, the incumbent, face off against Issah Mohammed Bataglia of the NDC, marking the second time the two will compete for the seat.
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The race is particularly intriguing, as Chinnia and Bataglia have a familial connection—Bataglia is Chinnia’s grandfather, adding a personal element to the political contest.
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What makes this election even more competitive is the recent defection of Lawyer Kingsley Kanton Kasim, a former PNC candidate who garnered over 9,000 votes in the 2020 election. Kanton has since joined the NDC and is actively campaigning for Bataglia, which could significantly shift the dynamics in favor of the NDC.
Challenges for the Incumbent
Being an incumbent MP seeking re-election is not always easy. An incumbent Mp might have step on the toes of party supporters, relationships with Party people he isn’t able to solve their problems might strained. Our MP is not coming home, our MP is not picking calls and so on… Are all disadvantages of incumbency.
Bataglia’s Advantage
Issah Mohammed Bataglia, on the other hand, stands as a fresh contender with minimal political baggage. He has yet to serve in office, which may work to his advantage, as voters may view him as a less polarizing figure compared to the incumbent. His message is simple “please help me to win”.
Additionally, with the support of Kingsley Kanton, Bataglia is expected to gain a substantial boost, particularly from former PNC voters most especially in Tumu, Kingsley’s hometown.
Sissala East Parliamentary Results Over the Years
Sissala district parliamentary results 1996
- Moses Dani Baah PNC 12,589 33.20%
- Solomon Salia Nmangu NPP 1,150 3.00%
Sissala district parliamentary results 2000
- Moses Dani Baah PNC – 16,009 55.40%
- Amidu Sulemana NDC – 12,046 41.70%
- Lamini M. Dawudu NPP – 632 2.20%
Sissala East parliamentary results 2004
- Moses Dani Baah – PNC 14,186 74.20%
- Alhassan Dubie Halutie – NDC 4,943 25.80%
Sissala East parliamentary results 2008
- Alhassan Dubie Halutie – NDC 7,060 36.91%
- Moses Dani Baah – PNC 6,843 35.77%
- Issah Bawuron Ahmed – NPP 5,226 27.32%
Sissala East parliamentary results 2012
- Alijata Sulemana – NDC 8,987 40.15%
- Amidu Issahaku Chinnia – NPP 6,603 29.50%
- Moses Dani Baah – PNC 6,450 28.42 %
Sissala East parliamentary results 2016
- Abass Ridwan Dauda – NPP 8,811 35.34%
- Kingsley Kanton Kasim – PNC 8,015 32.14%
- Alijata Sulemana Gbentie – NDC 7,846 31.47%
Sissala East parliamentary results 2020
- Amidu Issahaku Chinnia – NPP 12,932 37.23%
- Issah Mohammed Bataglia – NDC 12,060 34.72%
- Kingsley Kanton Kasim – PNC 9,126 26.27%
To cap it all, the 2024 election in Sissala East is shaping up to be a closely contested battle, with the involvement of Kingsley Kanton potentially tipping the scales in favor of the NDC.
While Chinnia has the advantage of incumbency, Bataglia’s fresh image and newfound support could make this a difficult race to call. The outcome of this election will determine whether Sissala East continues its trend of changing MPs after every term or if Chinnia can break the cycle.
With the constituency’s history as a swing seat and the added complexity of the PNC’s influence, Sissala East remains one of the most intriguing constituencies to watch in the upcoming 2024 general elections
