Opinions of Friday, 14 August 2015
Columnist: Kofi Kristofa
AS DEFEATED PARLIAMENTARY ASPIRANT CAMPAIGNS FOR NDC
There seem to be trouble brewing amongst the New Patriotic Party in Akan Constituency of the Volta Region. The cause of this rather unfortunate development is being put at the door step of some constituency executives with a defeated parliamentary aspirant of the New Patriotic Party in Akan, Alhaji Baba Salisu as the main architect. The said Alhaji Baba Salisu was one of the losers in the recently held parliamentary primaries of the New Patriotic Party Akan constituency.
Information picked up indicates that, the New Patriotic Party's anxiousness to capture the Akan constituency seat that is currently being held by an Independent Member of Parliament Hon. Kojo Ofori is being derailed by Alhaji Baba Salisu and some constituency executives who supported him during the primaries.
The attitude of Alhaji Baba Salisu and his supporters including some constituency executives who are known to be canvassing for votes for one of the parliamentary aspirant of the National Democratic Congress Abdul Aziz Muniru upon losing the primaries, is in sharp contravention of calls by the New Patriotic Party's 2016 Presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo for a unified front for victory in 2016.
This situation has created cracks in the New Patriotic Party in Akan constituency. Meanwhile, political pundits say this rather unfortunate development in the New Patriotic Party could rob the party of foreseeable victory in 2016 elections, in spite of the inroads the party has made in the Akan constituency over the years.
During the 2000 elections, the parliamentary seat was taken from the National Democratic Congress, NDC by an Independent candidate at that time Rashid Bawa with the then National Democratic Congress' Gyapong Kwadjo winning back the seat for his party in 2004. 2008 saw Kofi Adjei Ntim defeated by the NDC's Kojo Ofori who retained the seat in 2012 but that time as an Independent candidate.
Some NPP founding fathers in Akan are calling on the leadership of the NPP and 2016 Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to as a matter of urgency, reprimand Alhaji Baba Salisu and his group of constituency executives who they alleged are charting course of destruction against the Party in Akan. The general suspicion is that, Alhaji Baba Salisu has the support of the constituency chairman of NPP in Akan, Herman Anani, communications Officer Kennedy Oblitey, Nasara Coordinator Haruna and the second vice chairman of the party in Akan constituency Awudu Jalilu. Interesting when contacted, Chairman of the NPP in Akan constituency Herman Anani has denied the involvement of the party members who are alleged to be campaigning against the New Patriotic Party in Akan. 'It's not true. It's not true my brother, the ground is fertile' he said while Alhaji Salisu and others were not readily available for comment.