Deputy Local Government Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has denied media reports that he is eyeing the Akan constituency seat in the Volta region come 2012.
Speaking on Xfm morning show, the Big Bite Monday, 17th January 2010, Mr Afryie Ankrah categorically rubbished the report stressing, his singular ambition is to ensure that President John Mills secures a second term in office.
“I think that for now, I am very clear and focused in my mind. My ultimate objective is to ensure that President Mills goes for a second term. So I will work to be part of a team to ensure that that happens,” he said.
There have been some media reports suggesting that the Deputy Local Government Minister is preparing feverishly to oust the sitting NDC Member of Parliament for the Akan Constituency come the next parliamentary primaries of the party.
However, Mr Afriyie Ankrah expressed surprise in this piece of news. Even though he concedes that he has been approached by quite a number of people to contest various parliamentary seats, he says he has declined all offers.
“I am very surprised at the report. In 2004, the then MP approached me and said he wanted me to contest. I told him I had a national assignment, that I was looking at the broader picture of ensuring that Professor Mills becomes the president of Ghana, and as a Deputy General Secretary in charge of operations, if I went down to the constituency level, it will distract me from the national assignment that I was doing, and so I decline.”
“Since then, interestingly, other constituencies have approached me as well. Ayawaso West Wougon, where I contested in 2000 approached me, I gently declined. The Keta constituency, where my mother comes from, has also approached me. I give the same answers to all of them.”
“I just ask them a simple question; on election day, looking at the kind of things that I do, if I am struggling to monitor ballots in Keta, Akan or West Wuogon, will I be able to do those things effectively at the national level? And nobody has been able to answer that question for me. If I am convinced that somebody can answer that question, then I may reconsider, but for now, I’m looking at the larger picture,” Elvis Afriyie Ankrah reiterated.
Meanwhile, the seating MP for the Akan Constituency, Joseph Kojo Fori has warned that the Akan delegates are going to reject any member of the party who will contest him for the seat in the upcoming primaries.
Reacting to the reports that he has a contender in Mr Afriyie Ankrah, Hon Kojo Fori openly boasted that as a grassroot man, his position as an MP is firmly grounded.
“My people voted for me, they know I could do the job. I have done halfway through my mandate and I can assure you that whoever comes for the primaries against me will be beaten hands down.”
Hon Kojo Fori touted his achievements in the constituency as the main ingredient that will award him the seat for a second time. He says “I am still on course, and I can strongly believe my people know that I’m working, as such, whoever comes against me will be beaten hands down.”

Abena Asiedua Tenkorang/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana