The calculated attempts to link the Senior Policy Adviser and head of the Presidential Delivery Unit as the brain behind the various court cases brought against Dr. Zenator Rawlings, the disputed winner of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Klottey Korley Parliamentary slot, have backfired.
Madam Valerie Sawyerr, has rather been mentioned as having tried desperately to bring all the feuding factions in the Constituency together to have the NDC, build a united front to retain the seat.
A couple of weeks ago, supporters of Zenator went to town accusing Madam Valerie of fomenting trouble in the Klottey Korley Constituency, since the November 21, 2015, primary of the NDC.
Zanetor’s eligibility, has been challenged through numerous petitions and two civil court cases with one of the court setting February 22 to pronounce judgment on the matter. The court might call for a re-run of the election as happened to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) or ask that the status quo be maintained.
Julius Neequaye Kotey alias Logas, who is the Deputy Director of Communications for the Klottey Korle Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has said the allegations which have made headlines by way of a well-orchestrated media attacks against Madame Valerie, were not true.
Mr. Kotey in an exclusive correspondence with The Herald, also denied he personally mentioned to The Enquirer newspaper that Dr. Valerie was the brain behind Zanetor’s troubles in the Constituency as claimed by the newspaper.
He said, it could be true that Madam Valarie Sawyerr supported a candidate during the primary, but it is not true she was behind the court cases brought against Dr. Rawlings.
The primary that saw the sitting Member of Parliament, Nii Armah Ashietey defeated last year, sparked various controversy in the Constituency with party supporters petitioning the Constituency, Regional, National Executives of the NDC, as well as the founder of the party, J.J. Rawlings over his daughter’s eligibility to contest the primary.
The lack of response from the party executive, compelled some members to go to court.
A couple of days later, some newspapers carried various stories with same content, same wording, obviously by the same writer, accusing ex-Deputy Chief of Staff of being the brain behind the numerous court cases brought against the daughter of the founder of the NDC, to settle personal scores.
But Mr. Kotey, who was quoted by The Enquirer newspaper, told this paper that, the publications in the media, accusing Madam Valerie of pushing Lawyer Nii Armah Ashietey and Nii John Coleman, to use the law courts to oust Zanetor from the NDC ticket, could not be true.
He told this reporter, “I want to make it clear that, Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, has no hand in the court battle between Nii Armah Ashietey and Nii John Coleman against Dr. Zenator over her (Zenator) name not being on the voters’ register. We in the Klottey Korley, have looked up to Mr. Harry Sawyer for advice and financial support until his demise”.
Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, who happens to be the daughter of the late Harry Sawyer, also started playing that role as an astute mother of the Constituency, after the death of her father, Mr. Kotey told the paper.
He added that, the former Deputy Chief of Staff, unilaterally sponsors most activities in the Constituency in her zeal for the NDC to retain the seat.
He said, after the primary, she (Madam Sawyerr) called the supporters of Nii Armah Ashietey, Nii John Coleman, and Dr. Zanetor, and advised them to let the interest of the party remain paramount in all their dealings.
Quoting the words of the Deputy Chief of Staff after the primary; Mr. Kotey said “we all have a duty of uniting the grass roots; we must let the people know that unity is the only key to retain the seat for our wonderful party”.
He insisted that, “I am highly surprised at how people will say Madam Valerie was behind Nii Armah Ashietey to foment troubles, and it is not true and will never be true”.
He maintained that, the incumbent MP, is a lawyer by profession, and if in his levelheadedness, wants to seek redress it’s better than asking his supporters to resort to violence.
The Deputy Director of Communications for the Constituency, threw his support for the actions taken by the sitting MP, saying the court process was the best way to go as against inciting his supporters to go on rampage.
He stated emphatically that, Madam Valerie, will not do or take part in any action that will dent the image of the party.
He noted that, those who know her “will say she is very competent and hardworking and she will continue to serve the interest of the party and not any single individual’s interest”.
He entreated the supporters of Dr. Zanetor to desist from painting the humble, but efficient woman black in the media through hired agents.
He added that, Dr Sawyerr, is a clean party person and the Constituency needs her efforts to let the Scottish train Doctor succeeds in her political career.