Twelve candidates, including former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, have officially filed to contest the Council of State election in the Ashanti Region.

The aspirants, made up of two females and ten males, include Mr. Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, Nana Nkansah Ayeboafo, Mrs. Rose Hamilton, Mr. Frederick Adjei, and Nana Yaw Akuoko. Others vying for the position are Alexander Nti, Nana Gyedu Kumanin IV, Nana Kwasi Ampofo II, Angel Yirenkyi, Nana Oforiwaa Adwoa, Lawyer Daniel Anarfi Yamoah, and Adjei Bismark.

The election, scheduled for February 11, 2025, will see 86 voters, comprising two Assembly Members each from the 43 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the region, casting their ballots to elect a representative to the Council of State.

Mr. Francis Osei Nsiah, Regional Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), urged all aspirants to adhere to electoral rules and conduct their campaigns diligently. Speaking to Kumasi FM’s Elisha Adarkwah, he emphasized the importance of a fair and transparent process.

Former NDC Regional Chairman Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, one of the leading contenders, has dismissed claims that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has endorsed any particular candidate in the race. He described the reports as false and misleading, urging the public to disregard them.

Mr. Obimpeh highlighted several development projects undertaken in the region during his tenure as NDC Regional Chairman, asserting that his lobbying efforts contributed significantly to those initiatives. He appealed to the delegates to vote for him, promising to push for the development and progress of the Ashanti Region.

Other candidates, including Adjei Bismark, Angel Yirenkyi, Nana Oforiwaa Adwoa, and Lawyer Daniel Anarfi Yamoah, also shared their visions and reasons for contesting the Council of State election.

The race is expected to be keenly contested, with aspirants promising to bring development, representation, and advocacy to the Ashanti Region if elected.