A LONG standing tug-of-war between the nation's two giant political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper Manya Krobo Constituency of the Eastern Region has reached such a crescendo that the people of Otrokper and satellite communities may be paying dearly for it if the row persists.

The simmering disagreement among a few opinion leaders over the location of a community clinic that is to be constructed has taken a high pitch tone with politics being read into every aspect of the impending project and thereby giving it a jerky kick-start, months after it was given the green light.

The ?170 million clinic complex, which was the dream of the Manya Krobo District Assembly, had become extremely necessary because of the toll certain curable diseases, like malaria, typhoid, snake bites and ante and post natal complications, are having on the lives of the people.

But just as help was in sight, party politics sneaked in like a serpent; threatening the earlier unity and support the locals gave the noble idea when it was mooted a year ago.

Documents sighted by the Chronicle unfolded very interesting developments in the ding-dong battle for political favour.

For instance, due to the urgency attached to the project, the District Health Management Team, in June 6, last year, issued a certificate duly signed by one Kwame Kodom Achepen on behalf of the director and confirming official support for its construction at Otrokper.

Subsequently, the Ghana Poverty Reduction Project/Social Investment Fund (GPRP/SIF) approved a revision budget and was poised for take-off. In a letter dated November 5, 2002, Justice Akuffo-Hanaku, Acting Zonal Officer for Zone Five, which oversees the Eastern and Volta Regions, assured the clinic committee of its readiness to fund 75 per cent of the cost and directed the communities to mobilise its 10 per cent quota to top up the assembly's 15 per cent.

Unfortunately, the first set-back cropped in when a group calling itself the secretariat of union of Dadematsemei (chief farmers), led by the NPP sector chairman, Antrews Tetey, objected to the site.

The objection letter, which was dated November 15, 2002 and had the backing of chief farmers from Akatawa, Bormase Hweny, Esuom Manya, Obisua, Mimpemihuasem, Esuom Adjikpo, Otrokper New Town and Buku Yiti, argued among other things that the Assemblyman was an NDC member and as such does not fit into the scheme of events to determine the site of the clinic.

Even though it was writing to the DCE, copies were sent to the Deputy Regional Minister, District Director of SIF and the Regional and District Directors of Health.

In response, another faction, which claimed to have a louder voice among the chief farmers' union and led by their secretary, S. T. Anim and chairman, J. K. Korley, fired a rejoinder and insisted on the original site. They argued in a letter dated November 22, 2002 that the project was of communal interest and has nothing to do with politics.

As the strings are being pulled here and there, Chronicle investigations indicated that a few trips of sand and stones tipped at one of the sites before the problem started are still at the mercy of thieves and the weather.

In a telephone interview; the MP of the area, Hon. Stephen Amuanor Kwao, confirmed the story and regretted the political dimension it had taken.

The Deputy Regional Minister, Gustav Narh Dometey, could not be reached for comments. However, the District Chief Executive, Hon. Andrews K. Teye, said the confusion is being fomented by a few disgruntled elements in the area and promised that those people would fail in their bid. He said that since the clinic is meant to serve the larger interest of the communities, the location should pose no problem.

Meanwhile, many residents this reporter talked to expressed dismay at the development and wonder how precious lives can be so recklessly gambled with in the name of party politics. Others see it as the outcome of the proverbial clash of two elephants in which the ground is the eventual loser, since many that fall sick at Otrokper cannot travel the long distance to Asesewa for treatment.