By Alfred K. Dogbey

There is intense contest over the big shoes left behind by the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, who until last week was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akatsi South Constituency, formerly the Ave-Avenor Constituency of the Volta Region.

The Speaker of Parliament, The Herald is informed has sternly decided not to meddle in the affairs of the Constituency, instead allow the people to chose a suitable replacement for him after a 20-year dutiful service.

But already, this paper’s information is that a prominent lawyer from the area, Mr. Bernard Ahiafor is most likely to represent the constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) among six people who have been able to pick nomination forms as at the time of filing this report.

Prior to opening of the nomination, names such as James Kofi Apedo – a Journalist, Mr. William Kpormatsi- Constituency Propaganda Secretary, Mr. Francis Agbozo- Civil Servant, Mr. C.K Awudi- former Constituency Chairman and Karim Albankuridi, said to be the General Secretary of the Ireland branch of the NDC, popped up.

But this paper has gathered that, in the face of the mad rush for the seat, the NDC Constituency delegates and the vast majority of the constituents have unanimously chosen their suitable candidate for the job.

Checks by The Herald proved that 39-year old, Bernard Ahiafor, a Legal Consultant for the outgoing Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Dufour and legal Advisor to Star Assurance Company came into view as the favorite candidate likely to succeed Mr. Adjaho, for the seat.

Preliminary investigations conducted on the background and the profile of Mr. Ahiafor by The Herald revealed he is a top notch legal brain but on the quiet.

A cursory research into his legal background showed that Mr. Ahiafor started his legal practice in 2002 and has won a number of high profile cases, including popular (The Shai Traditional Counsel Vrs The Lands Commission & Or). The Herald’s checks revealed that Lawyer Ahiafor has been counsel for Mr. Anthony Eid Saoud, the contractor who built the infamous Hotel Kufour.

This paper also discovered that Mr. Ahiafor had also worked with renowned law firms and reputable institutions in the country to his credit. They include; National House of Chiefs/ Kuenyehia & Co. Chamber in 2002, Justking & Associates-2000-2003, Kwame Gyan & Associates-2003-2004, Star Assurance Company Limited-2004-2006, Unicredit Ghana Limited-2006-2007, Volta Ghana Investment Limited-2006, StarLife Assurance Company Limited-2007.

Others are; Generex Company Limited, Haultex Limited, Zina Quarry Limited- (2008), Cedars Green Lines Limited, Robin Hood Inn Hotel- (2009) and Integrated Properties Limited- (2012) just to mention a few.

Among the high profile cases the legal luminary won in 2012 alone are; Kwasi Ohene Dwumfour Co. Ltd Vrs Okuwe Family & Or, John Lawrence Chemist Vrs Star Assurance, Emmanuel O. Nyemitei Vrs Nene Djahene Korabo Iv, Cedar Green Line Vrs Antonoumous Auto Eng. Ltd, Samuel A. Charway Vrs The Lands Commission & Or, Dr. Theodore A. Osae Vrs B. Joseph Taylor, Jakes Kwarteng Acheampong Vrs Ampofo Edusei & Or, Miss Olivia Anim Vrs William Dzandzi, Theresa Ofori Vrs Star Assurance, Partey Samadji Vrs Star Assurance, and others.

Mr. Ahiafor hails from Atidzive, a suburb of Akatsi in the Volta Region. Meanwhile, information reaching The Herald indicates that the defeated 2012 independent parliamentary candidate, Evans Djikunu Gadetoh is also lobbying and asking for forgiveness on radio stations to join the race.

Mr. Djikunu was reported to have told an Akatsi-based community radio, “Kaleawo (Warriors’) FM” that the national and constituency executives of the NDC should consider him to contest the seat on the ticket of the party.

But Constituency Secretary, Mr. Daniel Dagba has objected.

Mr. Dagba told The Herald in an interview that although the party had not been informed officially, he doubt if it would be possible.

He explained that Mr. Djikunu left the party voluntarily to achieve his selfish aim hence cannot be considered now. The Constituency scribes, however, noted that the party was supreme than any individual hence [they] would go by the decision of the national executives when Mr. Djikunu informs the party’s hierarchy at the national level about his sudden u-turn and pleas of forgiveness.