2012 NDC Parliamentary Primaries

As Non-Performing MPs Prepare to Organize Awards to honour themselves Nicknamed the ‘world bank’ of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Volta Region will witness a fierce battle for Parliamentary Seats, when the party finally gives the green light for those interested in the next elections, in the various constituencies, to announce their intention. Very reliable sources at the Kokomlemle office of the ‘Akatamanso’ party told The Enquirer that most appointees from the region are being encouraged to contest at the primaries to elect candidates for the 2012 Parliamentary elections. The Enquirer can report that the party elders and leadership at both the national headquarters as well as the regional office in Ho are extremely disappointed at the performance of most of the Members of Parliament (MPs) from the region. Even though those who spoke to the paper will not mention names, The Enquirer is reliably informed that there is a lot of growing interest from some hardworking appointees in government to contest the parliamentary primaries. The Enquirer’s radar has picked up credible information that Deputy Minister for Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister for Finance, Fiifi Kwettey, Deputy Minister for Local Government, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah and Dzifa Attivor, Deputy Minister for Transport, have their eyes glued to the North Tongu, Ketu South, Akan and Ho West parliamentary seats respectively. Indeed, these deputy ministers are have been preparing fervently to boot out the current occupants of the seats come the next parliamentary primaries of the NDC. According to our source, seats such as Ave-Avenor, Central Tongu, Ketu North, Anlo, Buem, Hohoe South, Ho East, are the areas that will not see any serious competition due to the strength of the MPs on the ground. The MPs in the above constituencies have made strong impact and are well grounded, also as a result of their excellent human relationship with the constituents. With regards to Ketu North, the MP, James Klutse Avedzi, who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance is seen as a strong and very tactical politician, having worked very hard to displace the former Regional Minister and the current Ambassador to Benin, His Excellency Modestus Ahiable in his very first attempt to enter Parliament. The MP, who has been a great success in Parliament, has also recorded very remarkable achievements in the constituency. A university don, who is said to be nursing the ambition with a lot of support from the District Chief Executive, will be no match for him As far as the Roads and Highways Minister, Joe Kwashie Gidisu’s Central Tongu Constituency is concerned; the constituents are not expecting any party member to contest him, going by his remarkable performance as MP and Minister. According to the party leadership in the constituency, it is absolutely out of place to change a winning team, describing their MP as the best thing that has happened to the constituency. “As far as we are concerned our MP is very hardworking, down to earth, very accommodating, and ready to listen to you and advice you, he has done a lot for Central Tongu, and we will continue to support him”, an executive member told The Enquirer. With regards to the First Deputy Speaker, Doe Adjaho, also known as Ave-Avenor Mugabe, the seat is a safe one, the MP is seen as the eye of the region, and therefore can be described as untouchable. The Enquirer is reliably informed that some of the MPs who are not popular on the ground and recorded very low marks in recent ratings are in a face-saving exercise arranging to organise awards in their own honour. According to our source, these MPs are planning the Ex-President J.A.Kufuor’s kind of honouring, where they spend so much money to influence few constituents to organize durbars in their honour, and maybe hang 50 cent kind of chains around their necks. Some of these constituencies where very fierce battles are expected and political pundits say the sitting MPs could be on their way out included Ketu South, North Tongu, Ho Central, South Dayi, Keta, Ho West, Krachie West, Hohoe North, Krachie East, Biakoye and Akan.