WITH BARELY four days for the Ayawaso West (Wuogon) Constituency branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to go to congress to elect its parliamentary candidate for the December election the wrangling among the constituency hierarchy, has been compounded by the alleged decision of chiefs in the area to take sides in the dispute over the choice of candidate. The chiefs have resolved to rally people to vote against the NPP if Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare was allowed to contest the incumbent Member of Parliament, Mr. George Issac Amoo in the primary scheduled for Sunday, August 8.
?We have to remind the party hierarchy that there is growing perception that the Ga-Adagbe are being marginalized,? the chiefs said in a statement issued at a joint meeting with the elders of the rural East Legon, comprising Bawaleshie, Mpeasem, Okponglo, Shiashie and others.
The Chief of Bawaleshie, Nii Odoi Annan, Chief of Mpeasem, Nii Sodza, Chief of Shiashie, Nii Laryea Quarshie and Chief of Okponglo, Nii Annah Tooboase, signed the resolution.
?Even though we support the democratic principle underlying the primaries, we are opposed to the flagrant vote buying by some of the contestants. Reports have it that one lady is deeply involved in the practice,? the chiefs said.
In their view there is even no need for a primary as they wholeheartedly support the sitting MP who they claimed, by his track record, has shown deep interest in the development of especially villages in the constituency.
They said if the criteria for selection of the MP are hard work and dedication then Mr. Amoo has all, and above all, he understands their culture and heritage.
Meanwhile, The Chronicle has learnt that the MP has written officially to the party executive on two occasions, drawing attention to some anomalies in the procedures for the primary.
The paper has sighted copies of the letters written by Mr. Amoo to the Regional Chairman, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, the General Secretary, Mr. Dan Kweku Botwe and other executive members, one of which, dated June 10, stated, ?I write to formally register my protest against some aspects of the constituency polling station executive register, which has been compiled unilaterally by the chairman and some executive members.?
?Thus, at variance to the party?s constitutional provision, most executives of the constituency have been imposed as polling station chairpersons over the various polling stations at Legon campus, where we have a well organized and recognized NPP students front (TESCON) with their respectively polling station executives.?
The letter continued: ?Furthermore, other polling stations at Legon have been usurped by non-students and non workers as polling station executives. Let it be noted, that since 1992, the students (TESCON) of Legon have loyally served the party as polling agents during all elections and organizers for students support and vote on campus among the large student population of almost 25,000.?
Mr. Amoo recalled that in 1996, when Prof. K.K Oduro, then Head of Biochemistry Department of Legon, contested him at the primaries, the party ruled that since polling stations at Legon were located at various halls of residence, the students were the rightful people to absolutely represent their halls as delegates at that congress.
Mr. Amoo urged the party notches to take urgent steps to rectify the anomaly at Legon campus to ensure the continued participation of TESCON in all activities of the party in the constituency in particular and the nation in general.