A former employee of the Bank of Ghana (BoG,) Mr. Michael Sefa, has finally announced that he would contest the New Abirem parliamentary primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Consequently, Mr. Sefa, who is a native of Akoasi in the New Abirem Constituency in the Eastern region, has advised other potential aspirants for the NPP seat to reconsider their decision since he is the right candidate for the job.
After several months of speculation, the certified accountant and consultant re-affirmed the news making rounds that he was interested in the New Abirem seat.
Prior to making his intention known, Mr. Sefa has been accused of “buying” almost all the constituency executives with money.
Today learnt that he was also accused of buying a Mercedes Benz ML for the New Abirem constituency chairman and also allegedly gave an amount Ghc50,000 to the constituency executives during last year Christmas.
These allegations consequently angered his supporters who attacked and brutalised the constituency executives last year.
Subsequently, the police arrested the alleged perpetrators who are currently facing charges of assault at the New Abirem Magistrate Court.
But when Today contacted the aspiring NPP candidate via telephone on the bribery allegations, he refuted them, saying they are calculated attempts by his detractors to destroy his political career. He indicated his belief in democracy and said as a former General Secretary of the NPP in the United States of America (USA,) he could not comprehend why such false accusations should be made against him.
“After several months of numerous appeals, encouragement and solidarity, I have finally decided to contest the New Abirem seat when nominations are opened," Mr. Sefa hinted.
“I hereby declare my interest to contest the New Abiren parliamentary primaries. I remain grateful to the entire constituency, especially, the youth for their overwhelming and continuous support and encouragement. I pledge to remain dedicated to the course of our great party and constituency. We shall work hard to unify our party, draw all wanderers home, and widen the gap between us and the NDC in our constituency. The good news is that NPP still remains the hope of the nation for development and freedom,” he added.
Earlier in an interview with Today some market men and women together with the executives and a youth group of the NPP in the New Abirem constituency welcomed Mr sefa’s decision to contest the party’s parliamentary primaries in New Abirem constituency.
A group calling itself Concerned NPP Youth of Abirem told Today that the party could only maintain its electoral fortunes if only it would settle on Mr. Sefa.
“We need a strong candidate who can match the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and other political parties boot-for-boot in the 2016 polls.
A member of the group, Mr. Daniel Obeng, stated that Mrs. Obeng-Dapaah in 2012 promised not to contest in 2016 and wondered why such a sudden change of mind.
“Our grandmother (Mrs. Obeng Dapaah) promised not to contest the parliamentary primaries in 2016 so we are just reminding her,” he added.
According to the group, the aspiring NPP parliamentary candidate is a grassroots man who understands the problems of the constituents.
Mr. Sefa is a trained economist, ex-banker, macroeconomic researcher, Fellow of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK,) Certified Public Accountant (USA,) Chartered Accountant (Ghana,) chartered administrator, financial consultant, lecturer and author of Mystic Ideas Accounting books.