A 22-Year-Old Law Student is Running for the Manhyia South Seat in 2028 | Discuss Ghana

There is a fresh face entering the political arena in the Ashanti Region, and she is aiming straight for one of its most prominent constituencies. Nana Agyeiwaa Baffoe-Bonnie Michaels, a 22-year-old law student popularly known as "Okordie," has officially declared her intention to contest the Manhyia South parliamentary seat in the 2028 general elections. What makes her run particularly interesting is that she is bypassing Ghana's traditional two-party system. Instead of the NPP or NDC, she is running on the ticket of The Base Movement Ghana, a newly formed political group pushing a "Ghana First" agenda.

Why She is Stepping Into the Race

Speaking at a press conference at the movement's Ashanti Regional office in Kumasi, Michaels shared her vision for challenging the status quo:

Driven by Local Struggles: Michaels, who has lived in the constituency, stated that her decision to run was born out of watching the daily challenges faced by her community. "I understand the struggles of the people because I have lived through them," she noted.

12 Key Issues Identified: She outlined a massive list of local challenges she plans to tackle, including high youth unemployment, lack of support for small businesses (SMEs), poor road and drainage infrastructure, and weak citizen engagement from current political leaders.

Rejecting Party-First Politics: The young law student argued that Manhyia South has lagged behind because past leaders have put their political party interests ahead of the actual needs of the people.

Who is "The Base Movement"?

Michaels' candidacy puts a major spotlight on her political platform:

The Third-Force Campaign: Officially launched in April 2026 by founder Dr. George Oti Bonsu, The Base Movement has positioned itself as an alternative to the NPP and NDC.

A Focus on the Youth: The movement heavily targets young Ghanaians, focusing on job creation, agricultural transformation, and national accountability.

The Kennedy Agyapong Factor: The group's leadership has openly expressed a desire to back business-minded figures, even rallying support to draft prominent personalities like Kennedy Agyapong or Ibrahim Mahama to lead their broader national movement.