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Politics of Friday, 30 August 2019

    

Source: Kofi Siaw

NDC Polls: How Joseph Appiah crossed the first hurdle in his return to parliament

Former MP for Affram Plains South, Joseph Appiah Boateng Former MP for Affram Plains South, Joseph Appiah Boateng

The former member of parliament for Affram Plains South constituency, Joseph Appiah Boateng has drawn an inch closer to returning to the next parliament in 2021.

Joseph Appiah Boateng's bid to return as a lawmaker was characterized with his ability to win a court case that jeopardized his second term bid in the 2016 elections.

Barely two months to the December 7 elections, the NDC withdrew the MP who was the party’s Parliamentary Candidate for the area from the contest and replaced him with Eric Osei Owusu who placed second in the election.

The party’s decision followed an Accra High Court order in August which granted an application for an interlocutory injunction against Joseph Appiah Boateng.

The plaintiff Dickson Adjei Danso, a member of the then opposition NPP prayed the court to restrain the defendant from campaigning for the December polls until a final determination of the case.

The plaintiff Dickson Adjei Danso prayed the court to restrain the defendant from campaigning for the December polls until a final determination of case.

Mr. Appiah Boateng was alleged to have been convicted of fraud outside the country.

He was reported to have been deported to Ghana, joined the NDC and went on to represent the constituency in Parliament in 2012.

But on Friday 8th December 2017, an Accra high court presided over by His Lordship Nana Agyemang Badu cleared the former Member of Parliament of any wrongdoing as the plaintiff could not provide adequate evidence to back his allegation.

His acquaintance made him eligible to contest in this year's primaries.

Coming into this contest, Joe Appiah was highly tipped to win due to his good relationship with his constituents.

Indeed, the former MP defeated Eric Osei Owusu and former regional secretary, Mark- Oliver Kevor in the primaries.

He pulled 357 votes against 260 and 227 by Osei Owusu and Kevor respectively.