Politics of Wednesday, 2 April 2008

Source: GNA

Irene Addo to contest Tema West NPP primaries

Tema, April 02, GNA- A Diplomat and Lawyer, Madam Irene Naa Toshie Addo has filed her nominations to contest the Tema West constituency primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Madam Addo, 38, a Deputy Ghana Ambassador to the United States (US), is to contest the incumbent NPP MP, Lawyer Abraham Ossei Aiddoh. Ossei Aidooh, who is the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader, has also filed his nominations to seek re-election for the fourth term.

The Minister had earlier expressed optimism of retaining the seat considering the numerous contributions he had made to improve the human resource base and the entire constituency.

While he has financially sponsored the education of many youth and the needy he has as well spent his share of the common fund in procuring building materials for schools in his constituency. He has also fenced the school for the deaf and dump at Adjei Kojo near Ashaiman among other contributions.

Meanwhile, Mr Richster Nii Amaarh Amarfio 33, an NPP defector to the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), was declared unopposed as he was the only person to have filed his nomination at the close of nominations on March 31, to contest the parliamentary elections on the ticket of the CPP at the Tema East Constituency.

Mr Amarfio, the Executive Secretary of a Tema based Corporate Social Responsibility Movement (CSRM) an NGO concerned about the environment, said if given the nod he would create the enabling environment to ensure that the collapsed industries in the area are reactivated.

The aspirant said he would ensure that the local fishermen would also have a fair deal in their fishing business. According to him, since the constituency falls within the fishing and industrial community, he would ensure that the local fishermen get their allocation of the pre-mix fuel at affordable price, while advocating the enforcement of a "close season" that prevents fishermen from fishing, in order to allow the fishes to breed. He also intends to provide the fishermen with a permanent canoe landing bay, and that the Chemu lagoon would be dredged to serve the needs of the natives.