Frempong, A.K.D2013-01-162017-10-142013-01-162017-10-142007Ghana Social Science Journal, Vols.3&4, June/December 2006/2007http://197.255.68.203/handle/123456789/2603The Nkawkaw Constituency in the Eastern Region of Ghana in the 2004 parliamentary election witnessed one of the most competitive contests. In a relatively safe constituency, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) incumbent MP faced his stiffest electoral challenge from an independent candidate from the fringes of his party. It was a race in which the merits and demerits of incumbency, lack of intra-party democracy and the limitations of independent candidacy were all exhibited. Against the background of the electoral history of the constituency, this work analyses the dynamics and dilemmas of the 2004 contest and draws lessons for the futureenArticle