Clear Bill to contest Tema West seat - Friends

Friends of Bill Boglo Hedo, a Tema West parliamentary hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have appealed to the National Executive of the party to clear their candidate to contest the parliamentary primaries come November 7.

The group said the decision of the Executive to withhold the result of the vetting of Mr Hedo has put them into a state of apprehension adding that it is worrying that they are yet to hear of the clearance of any candidate to contest the primary in the constituency.

Thirty-years old Mr Hedo and Lawyer James Enu picked and filed nominations to contest the seat on the party's ticket for the 2016 general election.

After the two went for vetting, none of them have been cleared two weeks to the primary.

This has led to speculations among some supporters that it is a calculated strategy to disqualify the two contestants to allow Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, First Chairman and Director of Elections of the NDC to contest the seat for the second time.

Mr Siisi Forso, conveyor of Friends of Bill told the media after a health walk that the youth of the constituency want the Executive to clearly state what the issue is that has led to the delay in clearing the candidate.

Mr Forson noted that as far as members are concerned, Mr Hedo is qualified to contest the seat.

He asked the national executives to consult the grassroots in the constituency before taking important decisions.

He described as unfair the withholding of the clearance based on claims that Mr Koku Anyidoho, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, who chaired the vetting, raised concerns about a correctional fluid on Mr Hedo's branch membership card.

The conveyor explained that his 2004 membership card from the Community 20 branch where he used to be had the correction fluid because the chairperson made a mistake and wrote 'Boglo Junior' therefore the need to erase it for the correct name to be written.

Mr Forson said he also presented another card and attestation letter from his current branch 'Holy Child Nursery B' issued in 2008.

He said even though the party has up to September 2016, to present its candidates to the Electoral Commission, they cannot wait till that time for the clearance as they want Mr Hedo to contest the November 7 primaries.

He hinted that if the Executive disqualify him, they are prepared to go through the party structures to address the issue and if not satisfied resort to the courts for redress.