Politics of Monday, 10 April 2006

Source: GNA

Wa Central NDC members will not defect to DFR - MP

Wa, April 10, GNA - Mr. Rashid Pelpuo, Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa central on Monday stated that there was no way supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would defect to the yet to be registered Democratic Freedom Party (DFP).

"Politics is about choice, my people have made their choice and there was no way that they will reverse it. It is NDC that has made them what they are today and I really do not see what will sway them from their focus."

Mr Pelpuo, who was reacting to rumours that some of his supporters were taking steps to defect to the DFP, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Wa said his supporters were happy with the performance of the party in the region and would therefore not entangle themselves to a party that was yet to be registered.

He said the NDC was doing everything possible to fortify their hold in the constituency and region in general and it would be the surprise of the decade if members defect to DFP.

"I wonder how my staunch supporters can move to a party that has not been registered, a party that has no manifesto and of course a party that has no clear cut leadership."

Mr Pelpuo admitted that winning the 2008 elections would so much depend on the kind of presidential candidate that they put up. He said the entire leadership of the NDC, up till now had not settled on a particular candidate that would lead the party to victory in 2008.

The Wa Central MP said while a faction of the party thought that Professor J.E.A. Mills should still lead the party because of the popularity he had gained over the years, others thought it was the turn of a Northern presidential candidate due to their immense contribution to the party and its governance.

He said, "at the appropriate time a consensus will be reached to come out with a winnable candidate for the party."

In terms of development projects for his constituency, Mr Pelpuo said he had identified electricity, roads and education as the fundamental needs of the people and was addressing them accordingly.

He said, while he had worked out for some communities to receive electricity, other communities were now enjoying good roads and potable drinking water through his initiative.

The MP said he was sponsoring a lot of university students to gain higher education.