Sam George
THE NATIONAL Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ningo-Prampram Constituency is blistering with hatred for its parliamentary candidate, Samuel George Nartey, as some party loyalists in the area have deserted him, even before he kick-starts his campaign.
Even before the dust could settle on Sam George’s unconcluded tug of war with the traditional authorities in the Ningo Traditional Area, led by Nene Karnor Atiapah II, acting paramount chief and Mankralo of the Ningo Traditional Area, Sam George is said to have angered some members of his party at Prampram and its environs. They are reportedly eager to teach him a lesson ahead of the November 7 polls.
Over 200 supporters of the NDC in the constituency have declared to vote ‘skirt and blouse’ in the general election by voting for President John Dramani Mahama and Sylvester Tetteh, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the area.
According to them, the party stands to suffer a big blow in Ningo-Prampram if they continue to offer their support to Sam George, who doubles as a presidential staffer.
The NDC candidate was recently at loggerheads with the traditional authorities and was fined; but a sheep he presented to the chiefs was rejected.
The rejection enraged him, and he reportedly asked the chiefs to also return GH¢500 he had given them.
The supposed over 200 defectors who are from Afienya, Dawhenya, Abbey-Kope, Mobole, Community 25 and Mataheko in the Ningo-Prampram constituency, have promised to work hard for the president to regain his popularity.
They were of the view that the manner in which Sam George is misusing the name of the president to deceive people in the area was appalling and affecting the party.
According to them, in most of the NDC strongholds they had visited to hold rallies ahead of the upcoming polls, they were confronted with various questions over Sam George’s attitude.
Leader of the defectors, Marmah Mantey Francis, who was also a campaign coordinator for Sam George, pointed out to DAILY GUIDE that “Sam George is not helping the party’s image in the area since he won the primary. He continues to provoke each and everyone, including members of the NDC, with his bad manners and lies.”
He noted that Sam George does not respect the elderly, including chiefs who are leaders he wants to represent and wondered whether he will be a humble person when he wins power.
According to him, in as much as they are NDC members, they will love someone with a good character like Sylvester Tetteh to lead Ningo-Prampram.
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Promises
According to Marmah, Sam George promised them tractors just after the primary to boost their farming activities, based President Mahama’s promise to supply him with the tractors, but that promise was yet to materialize.
He said the NDC candidate further promised a number of public places of convenience after the primary but he was yet to start a single one in the area; and so the people were worried.
“Whenever Sam George attends functions such as naming ceremony, he would promise the people but will not deliver. When the people call him over the promises, he only gives them excuses.”
The defectors had promised to work extra hard for the NPP to win the parliamentary seat in the constituency.
From Vincent Kubi, Ningo-Prampram