Member of Parliament for Ketu North and Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament Hon. James Avedzi has become “a burden over his people’s head”. The controversial Ketu North MP has lost favour among the NDC party faithful of Ketu North so much so that; even his own backyard electoral area of Xipe/Ative was lost in land-slide fashion to a pro-NPP man- Emmanuel Gameli Kpogo thus in the just ended local government election of Assemblymen. The people rejected the favourite candidate of the MP, to show their displeasure at his conduct for sometime now, and also the fact that he could not continuously undermine them.
The MP, who recently has been noted engaging in petty gossips and indirect exchanges on the floor of parliament, has according to sources in Ketu North lost-touch with his people; and has allegedly said without shame time and again that, “surely my three months allowances alone will do the trick for me during voting”. A pronouncement only typical of “moneycrats”. There is no doubt, that the character of gossip and gross disrespect exhibited by the Hon. Avedzi even in parliament in recent times whiles dealing with fellow members; is but a tip of what his true behaviour is among the NDC fraternity in Ketu North. And this trait undoubtedly is indicative of reason for the never ending fracas within the leadership of the party in Ketu North. On the ground at Wheta, Afife, Dzodze, Penyi; this writer gathers that the MP has consistently engaged in “divide and rule tactics” thereby creating general apathy and bitterness among the NDC family. The effect of the MP’s desperate greed for political power is destroying the good reputation of NDC Ketu North which had been built around unity, stability and development many years before the Hon. James Avedzi came in year 2004. And clearly the people now feel hopeless for the NDC legacy as the “Hon. MP” ruthlessly tears it apart! That legacy of unity, stability and development witnessed in times past in Ketu North is no more and the general cry on the ground now is “If it is Avedzi, then forget it!” Some “die-hards” have already started “no more voting campaigns” whiles a good portion of those in the middle are falling to other attractive parties.
There are indications from some activists contacted on the ground, that the MP is relying on his cronies Madam Bertha Amenuvor of the NDC National Secretariat, Henry Ametepe the Volta Regional NDC Organiser and Joseph Amenowode the Regional Minister; as well as the long standing problem Professor Kofi Awoonor; all people who helped him to organise the dubious executive conference of 2009 at Xipe_to again help him push his personal agenda of returning to Parliament by hook or crook; a “hallucinative feeling” that cannot see the light of day in Ketu North because, anybody who tries to “bulldoze” James Avedzi through or buy votes, will be resisted by the people as far as this writer’s information from the ground indicates. The people want redemption from a divisive leader! The people want a leadership that will renew the once united, stabilised and developing NDC family of Ketu North.
Now, a look deeper into the statistics of the recent Local Government Elections brings to light even more interesting revelations as far as Ketu North is concerned and these are indicative of the dwindling fortunes of the umbrella party in Ketu North generally. And clearly most of the revelations had never occurred in the history of the party there before; and strategically these developments are of grave consequence to the NDC party if care is not taken. Embattled constituency chairman (usurper) Mr. Moses Azaglo also lost his backyard of Fiagbedu Electoral area to an NPP activist by name Mr. John Ahiable. The claimant to the secretary position by name Mr. Jacob Agbenusa also lost his backyard electoral area to an NPP man, and likewise Henry Ametepe the Regional Organiser of Fornyaga Electoral Area losing out to the NPP’s......for Assemblyman.
Evidently, the NDC is at the cross-roads in Ketu North. To go by the will of the people; or the Regional and National leadership choose to follow one man James Avedzi and his cronies like a housefly to the grave i.e. destruction! It is in the interest of the NDC to be very open and the government should ensure fairness in all affairs of our young district of Ketu North. What is done in Ketu North as far as party and government is concerned should not be at par with what goes on elsewhere; and this statement is being made because our constituency or district is being discriminated against in certain projects and programs of government e.g. the issue of government appointees. We do not want alteration in any matter relating to Ketu North simply because of undue advantage, to be given to our careless MP. This practice should be stopped in the interest of the NDC’s growth and prosperity. Long live the NDC.

Writer:
Mawuena Dzaka
(Afife-Ketu North District)