A Ghanaian Journalist based in the United States of America (USA) has declared his intention to contest the impending National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Kwesimintsim Constituency near Takoradi in the Western Region.
Speaking to the Ghana Politico, the Journalist, Augustine Arthur who is also an ex Police Chief Inspector of the Ghana Police Service disclosed that he made the decision following persistent calls from traditional rulers, opinion leaders, religious leaders, workers, youth, and other members of the constituency for him to contest the seat and represent them in Parliament .
Ex-Chief Inspector Arthur who hails from Dixcove and Egyam in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region was born and bred at Kwesimintsim near Takoradi. He attended Anagye STCC Primary/Middle School at Anagye near Takoradi, St. Mary’s Secondary School at Apowa near Takoradi, Nsein Secondary School at Nsein near Axim, and the Ghana Institute of Journalism in Accra. He has also pursued courses in Human Rights, Peacekeeping and International Conflict Resolution, International Humanitarian Law and the Law of Armed Conflict from the Peace Operations Training Institute in the United States of America. In addition, he has undertaken a training programme on Preventing Electoral Violence in Africa at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington DC, USA.
The NDC aspiring candidate worked as a Laboratory Technician at Western Castings Limited in Takoradi before joining the Ghana Police Service in 1988. He started his career in the Ghana Police Service as a Detective at Konongo in the Ashanti Region and later as a Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Office in Kumasi and then at the Ghana Police Headquarters Public Affairs Directorate in Accra where he retired voluntarily in March, 2006 after 17 years of service. Chief Inspector Arthur also had the opportunity to serve as a United Nations Civilian Police Officer in Kosovo. He was also a presenter on Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) GTV programme, Crime Combat, in 2002. In February 2004, he represented the Ghana Police Service at the International Youth Crime Watch Conference in Arlington, USA where he was honoured as the Best International Police Officer for his exemplary effort in promoting the Youth Crime Watch concept in Ghana.
Ex-Chief Inspector Arthur who is popularly known as Archipelago or Archie has promised to focus on education, youth vocational training, health, agriculture, and environmental issues, and also support development projects in communities in the constituency which comprises Kwesimintsim, Apremdo, Assakae, Whindo, Adientam, Mpatado, and Anagye.
A survey conducted by Ghana Politico in the constituency revealed that Archie is a popular home-boy who has been of immense assistance to the development of the area and he is tipped to win the NDC primary and eventually snatch the seat from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the December 2016 parliamentary election.