In the run-up to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries, the former president of Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bice Osei Kuffour, affectionately called Obour expressed his profound confidence in the support of delegates at the Asante Akyem South constituency.

To him, his delegates had promised to bring him massive victory, thus, there was absolutely no need to fear the aftermath of the primaries.

He is quoted to have said in an interview on Peace FM, "They have promised to vote for me and since they're dependable, I know they will honour their word to bring me victory…”

Obour further emphasized that he has "no fears because of my relationship with them. And looking at this year's primaries which will be held at the electoral areas according to the leadership of the NPP, I know of some electoral areas in my constituency that, for instance, have six delegates and I know a number of the delegates who call me often to tell me how they adore me."

Fast forward to the Election Day - the time of declaration by EC officials - and Obour came to learn the reasons Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John coined the popular mantra “Fear Delegates.”

His delegates did not hand him the victory he longed for as a debutant. In fact, he lost to the incumbent Member of Parliament Kwaku Asante-Boateng who pooled 360 votes as against Obour’s 168.



Read the full story originally published on June 12, 2020, on Ghanaweb

Former President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bice Osei Kuffour, popularly known as Obour, who is aspiring to be elected as the member of parliament for Asante Akyem South constituency on the ticket of NPP has said he is confident that his delegates will not disappoint him in the upcoming primaries.

The NPP has slated its presidential and parliamentary primaries for Saturday, June 20 this year and already the party's Parliamentary candidates have been pitching their campaign messages to the delegates.

Obour is poised to contest the sitting Member of Parliament for the constituency, Kwaku Asante Boateng but since votes by delegates cannot be predicted, the question then arises does Obour fear his delegates?

"Fear delegates" is a coinage by Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John, a former NPP General Secretary, and a term to describe the unsteady behaviour of political party delegates.

The popular term was associated with Sir John after he suffered an overwhelming defeat in the NPP primaries in 2014 although he had unflinching support of his delegates.

Speaking in an interview on Peace FM's morning programme 'Kokrokoo', Bice Osei Kuffour told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that he is absolutely certain of his victory in the primaries.

He explained that before he disclosed his interest in contesting the Asante Akyem South Parliamentary seat, he had already been behind the scenes working with the party delegates to improve the livelihood of the residents in the community.

He noted that he has built a strong relationship, cemented on goodwill, with the delegates and expressed confidence in his delegates describing them as trustworthy.

He strongly believes they will vote massively for him during the party's primaries.

"They have promised to vote for me and since they're dependable, I know they will honour their word to bring me victory."

Obour further emphasized that he has "no fears because of my relationship with them. And looking at this year's primaries which will be held at the electoral areas according to the leadership of the NPP, I know of some electoral areas in my constituency that, for instance, have six delegates and I know a number of the delegates who call me often to tell me how they adore me."

"So, it is when we go for the primaries and I get only one out of these six delegates to vote for me that will tell me to fear the delegates just as Sir John said but should I get a good result, then I will know they're trustworthy. But my delegates at Asante Akyem South are very loyal".