Story by: Samuel Ablordeppey

With barely three weeks for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to select its parliamentary candidates for this year’s general elections at its constituency primaries scheduled for the 21st January 2012 across the country, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the Odododiodoo constituency in Accra, Hon. Nii Tackie Komey says his hottest contender and a presidential aide Nii Lantey Vanderpuye is not destined to be a member of parliament.

Contrary to views in the constituency to the effect that the seat ‘’belongs’’ to Nii Lantey Vanderpuye because of his earlier attempts to represent the people of the area, the current M.P says ‘’I do not think there is any seat in Ghana that belongs to any one individual neither is it a birthright to any single person or a family inheritance.’’

He argued that since Nii Lantey failed in 1996 and 2004 when he had the brightest opportunity to realize his dream as an M.P, he believes Nii Lantey is not destined to be a legislator, and does not have what it takes to win the Odododiodoo seat.

‘’The good lord has given him a place at the presidency and perhaps that is where the good lord thinks he can be of benefit to the constituency.’’ The M.P said.

Hon. Nii Tackie Kommey, told Radio Gold that, in view of continuing with the Better Ghana Agenda the President in his wisdom chose the vice president John Dramani Mahama in order to stay focus and maintain the developmental agenda.

He said, ‘’if we have been able to do that on the National level why not at the parliamentary level he quizzed? We are going to give a wrong message to our opponents at the constituency level if we are to change experienced sitting M.P’s.’’

He wondered why his friend who supported him in 2008 had rather chosen to contest him now, and urged Nii to support him so the two of them could use their offices to develop the constituency.

He indicated that, the constituents in his area are saying ‘’it is good to have two things than one. They said with Nii as a presidential aide and him as the M.P they believe the area is better off the two.’’

If he wants to leave the Castle and come to the constituency, what then will be the benefit to the constituency? But with the ‘’two of us’’ we could make a big difference in inproving the infrastructure of the area and create jobs for the youth.

The two time Member of Parliament said, he was not scared of Nii’s decision to contest him. He explained that during a bye election in 2005 under the then ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) very ‘’terrible’’ things including influencing delegates with material things and the rapid development the NPP brought to the area could not win them the seat because ‘’my people’’ were discerning and they stayed with me and I believe they will be with me again in ‘’these trying moments.’’

He stressed that ‘’if we are preaching continuity for the President, what about the Members of Parliament.

On his achievements as Member of Parliament for the area, Nii Tackie Komey stated among other things that, he has assisted in the construction of four school buildings via Get fund, namely the Holy Trinity Secondary School, Sacred Heart, Ayalolo cluster of school and the Independence basic school.

He has also provided both the female ward of the Ussher Polyclinic and the James Town Maternity Clinic with a Water tank, Generator and hundreds of laptops to the schools in the area.

‘’ I have served my people in truth and honesty, and I believe sincerely that they will not disappoint me, but retain me to continue with the good work.’’ Tackie Komey said.