A group of supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the La Dade-Kotopon Constituency, in the Greater Accra Region, have called on the leadership of the party to refrain from imposing a parliamentary candidate (PC) on them following a decision by its PC, Dr. Joseph Gerald Tetteh Nyanyofio, not to contest after acclamation by the delegates.
Speaking at a press conference, the group said an imposition of a parliamentary candidate on the constituency will further divide the already polarised area, which lost the 2020 parliamentary elections.
Convener and a polling station chairman at La, John Osafo Danso, alleged that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party has planned to impose a parliamentary candidate on the people of La.
That, according to the group, would not work unless they were given an opportunity to select a parliamentary candidate who would capture the parliamentary seat.
“It has come to our notice that there is a very vicious and clandestine manoeuvre to declare and impose a certain person as the PC on the good people of La, specifically referring to the NPP supporters and party fraternity, including all the polling station executives.
“It is our position as a group to vehemently say that the only way forward to bring the needed and required unity to ‘break the eight’ in our constituency is to respectfully and professionally run and go for a fair contest in the choice of our PC,” Osafo Danso stated.
He also said that allowing the constituency to select a parliamentary candidate through a contest by a number of people would enable them win other floating voters who may not necessarily be members of the NPP.
He mentioned that in the supposedly strong constituencies with strong parliamentary candidates, individuals allowed themselves to be contested without any fear of losing the parliamentary primary.
He cited the example of the parliamentary candidate for the Ledzokuku Constituency and Minister designate for Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central and the Minister of the Interior, Henry Quartey among several others.
“We hope and believe the National Party led by the National Chairman, Regional Party led by the Regional Chairman and Secretary, will not fail the aspirations of the NPP fraternity in the La Dade-Kotopon Constituency to be involved and be part of their choice of PC,” he added.
The group further urged the constituency chairman for the area to ensure the right decision is taken in order not to cause any disaffection among members of the party.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah