Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
A Local Government Expert, Kwame Darko has strongly criticized the decision by the Ashanti Regional Executive Committee of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) to allow three District Chief Executives to contest the party’s upcoming Parliamentary primaries unopposed.
The Executive Committee after a meeting held on Monday 29th July 2019, resolved that the three(3) Orphan Constituencies in the region shall sponsor the candidatures of Hon. Alidu Seidu, MCE- Asokore Mampong, Hon. Salisu Bamba, MCE – Ejura Sekyeredumasi and Hon. Joseph Owusu, DCE – Sekyere Afram Plains as sole candidates for the Asawasi, Ejura Sekyeredumasi and Sekyere Afram Plains respectively.
The decision, the Regional Executive said was taken after thorough and extensive deliberation.
A statement signed by the Ashanti Regional Secretary, Sam Pyne said “This action is in line with the party’s strategy to annex these three (3) constituencies. The party is resolved to make sure that, all other actions are in tune with Article 12,(I) of the party’s constitution and all party members are enjoined to abide by this resolution.”
It added that “Party members who flout this directive shall be sanctioned according to the rules and regulations of the party’s constitution.”
But Mr. Kwame Darko in an interview with Henry Lord on Ejura based Naagyei FM stated that such a move will be counterproductive and may bring about serious disunity in the party ahead of the 2020 general elections.
“I don’t see why the Regional executives should block anyone from contesting. Such actions by party executive most of the time result in far-reaching consequences. This move could cause huge division in the party and hugely affect the party’s electoral fortunes in the areas concerned come 2020 elections. There could be a likelihood of apathy among the aspirant who’s prevented from contesting and his supporters. The best thing for the party executives to do is to allow the aspirants to contest if he loses he knows he lost fairly.”
