*DCE in tango over Osafo-Maafo’s seat

AS HONOURABLE Yaw Osafo-Maafo leaves his Akyem Oda Parliamentary seat to assist Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo become the next president of the republic, his seat has now become a ‘hot cake’ with a number of persons making frantic moves to seize the seat.

At the last count, as many as five natives of the area had been mentioned as those habouring ambitions to contest the seat on the ticket of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Some of the names that have cropped up include the District Chief Executive for Akyem Oda, Mr. Frank Bosomtwe, a former Acting Government Statistician, Dr. Grace Bediako and a US based ICT Consultant, Yaw Twum Sakyi.

Larry Kwaku Attafuah, former Special Assistant to Mr. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, then Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and one Owusu Boateng have also been mentioned as those contending to contest the Oda seat.

In an interview with the Akyem Oda District Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Bosomtwe, he confirmed the speculation and insisted that he is the best person to represent the people of the area in Parliament by virtue of his immense contribution to the development of Oda and its environs.

When asked why he has not resigned from his current post vis-à-vis a recent directive from the office of the President to the effect that all sitting DCEs intending to contest Parliamentary seats should resign, Mr. Bosomtwe explained that the directive was specific on DCEs who intend contesting seats that the sitting MPs also intend contesting.

He explained that since the sitting MP in his case Hon. Osafo-Maafo, has publicly announced that he is no more contesting, he was not bound by that directive.

Mr. Frank Bosomtwe is a town planner by profession and has been in that service for 29 years with 15 years in a Regional Directorship position.

He holds a Master’s Degree from the City of New York University, Graduate in American Studies from the Columbian University and a Fellow at the Ghana Institute of Engineers and Planners.

Last year, Mr. Frank Bosomtwe went into history books as the only sitting District Chief Executive in the country to host all District Chief Executives in his district; a record he believes is as a result of his exceptional competence.

Information gathered by this paper indicates that the outgoing MP has unofficially endorsed the 2nd Vice Chairman of the Constituency, Mr. Kennedy Oteng as his successor.

According to Gye Nyame Concord sources at the constituency, the sitting MP is going round introducing Kennedy Oteng to major stakeholders of the party at Oda to assist Oteng to become the next MP for the constituency.

Meanwhile, some members and supporters of the Akyem Oda NPP had sworn heaven and earth to vote ‘skirt and blouse’ if Yaw Osafo-Maafo contests for the seat in the December 2008 elections.

The supporters threatened to vote for one Atta Krah, NDC candidate for the last elections rather than vote for a Mr Osafo-Maafo.

The raging supporters who had earlier abruptly ended a party meeting held at Oda rained uncountable number of allegations on their MP accusing him of maligning the people of Akyem Oda and also sidelining the area when it comes to development projects et al.

According to them, Osafo-Maafo has described the people of Akyem Oda as drunkards among who there are no literates; an allegation the MP has firmly denied.

Barely 24 hours after the rumpus back home at Akyem Oda; Mr. Osafo-Maafo was quoted in sections of the media to the effect that he will not seek re-nomination to contest for the seat in the upcoming December 2008 elections.

In an interview later with Gye Nyame Concord, Mr. Osafo-Maafo said his decision not to contest for the seat stemmed from his conviction that the party needed more capable hands at the presidential level in order to convincingly win the presidency.

According to ‘Mr Oyeadeeyie’ the advent of Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom into the Presidential race means a lot of headache for the New Patriotic Party and therefore the need to work extra hard to retain power come January 2009.

He noted that his information was that the CPP flagbearer was making serious inroads into the political terrain which he said could spell doom for the NPP in the upcoming elections should the experienced hands in the party such as himself sit down unconcerned and leave Nana Akufo-Addo alone on the ‘war front’.

He also cautioned the party against any possible run-off in the December 2008 presidential polls, insisting that incumbent political parties seldom survive election run-offs and noted that the NPP was no exception.

All these coupled with other factors, Mr. Osafo-Maafo said, contributed to his decision to relinquish his parliamentary seat which he believes is a ‘bona-fide property’ of the NPP.

He said the December duel requires more than party popularity and noted that the campaign team for Nana Akufo-Addo will need experienced personalities who have the competency to run an electioneering campaign capable of winning the polls hands down.