Ningo-Prampam MP, Sam George Nartey, has wished his political rival ET Mensah the very best as he bids to be elected to the Council of State.

Mr Mensah was defeated by his protégé-turned-rival during the National Democratic Congress’ parliamentary primaries at Ningo-Prampram in November 2015, bringing to an end the former Sports Minister’s long reign as lawmaker for the area.

There has been bad blood between the two men in the lead-up to, and after the acrimonious primary and subsequent general elections of December 2016, amid allegations that Mr Mensah was sponsoring the candidate of a rival party against Mr Nartey’s candidature.

After news broke that Mr Mensah had filed to contest as a member of the Council of State, reports emerged of some supporters of the NDC at Ningo-Prampram voicing their opposition to the veteran legislator’s ambition, amid appeals to delegates to reject him.

But speaking with Nana Ama Agyarko on Accra News on Wednesday February 15, 2016, Mr George Nartey said executives of the party in his constituency had not met to take a decision on Mr Mensah but added that he personally wished him the best in his Council of State ambition.

“As far as I am aware, the NDC in Ningo-Prampram have not met to take a position that we are unhappy with Mr ET Mensah’s decision to contest,” he said.

“[ET Mensah] is very experienced in politics and knows the ins and outs. Being human, you weigh the positives and negatives of the decision you take. And, so, if by his assessment it would help his legacy by contesting for such a position, all I, as Ningo-Prampram MP, can do is to pray to God for His favour on him. And if it is the will of God, who enthrones, he gets what he asks for.”

“It is his decision, so, we can only wish him the best of luck. As to what people say about it, they are entitled to that view. I am a party member, what the leadership of the party says about it is what we will go with.”

Mr Mensah is among 16 aspirants, which also includes 24-year-old Class FM journalist Desmond Decker, seeking to grab one of two spots to represent the Greater Accra Region on the Council of State. The regional poll will come off today, Thursday February 16, 2017 at the Ga West Municipal Assembly.