Tema Manhean, August 06, GNA -- The former Mayor of Tema Metropolis, Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, has said he qualifies to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections and was sure of winning to retain the seat for Tema East constituency for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He said the national executives of the party would not have cleared him to contest the primary if he were not qualified. Mr. Narh, former Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive polled 71 votes to defeat the incumbent parliamentarian, Mr Ishmael Ashitey who had 49 votes at the primary held in May.

He was answering questions at a forum as to whether he did not commit any financial malfeasance during his tenure of office as the Mayor of Tema, daring anyone who doubted his credibility to take the issue to court.

This was at a public debate organised by the Tema Canoe Fisheries Hustlers Association for the parliamentary candidates in the constituency to present their manifestoes, especially that on the fishing industry to the electorate at Tema Manhean. Mr. Narh attributed his success in politics to his open administration adding that, he had always had the welfare of the Tema community, especially fisher folks, at heart.

He mentioned development at the beaches, the championing of the ban on the use of lighting for fishing by some fishermen, construction of other development projects in the entire metropolis as well as ensuring sound environmental cleanliness, among others, assuring them of bringing his experience to bear to develop the constituency. On his part, the Parliamentary candidate for the Convention People's Party (CPP), Mr. Richster Nii Amarh Amarhfio explained that he defected from the NPP "because of the unfair policies that favoured the use of lighting for fishing by some trawling fishing companies". The 33-year old candidate claimed that the welfare of the community was his priority and therefore formed an NGO, the Corporate Social Responsibility Movement on the environment which ensured that the industries treated their effluent before discharging into the Chemu Lagoon.

The lagoon, which was the main source of livelihood by the indigenes was allegedly rendered inactive by effluent from the industries and now efforts were being made to reactivate it through his initiative. 06 Aug. 08