I’m a Voltarian by choice – Joe Ghartey

A flag-bearer-aspirant of Ghana’s biggest opposition party has told the people of the governing party’s stronghold – Volta Region – that though he is not a native of the area, he has chosen to be one of them.

“I am not a Voltarian by birth or by blood but I am a Voltarian by choice”, the former Attorney General told the chiefs and elders of the Gbi traditional area when he toured the Region recently ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s Super Delegates’ Conference scheduled for Sunday August 31 to elect five out of seven aspirants gunning for the standard-bearer slot.

The Esikado-Ketan Legislator recounted his strong relationship with the Volta Region going back to his secondary school days when he used to spend his vacations in Hohoe. He said the Volta Region was also where he returned to spend his honeymoon when he got married and therefore regarded the Region as his own home.

Among the traditional leaders he met are: Gbi Paramount Chief, Togbe Gabusu VI; the Mankrado of Gbi Bla, Togbe Vulley V; the clan head of Kpeme, Togbe Worde IV, and their people.

At the Gbi Palace, Togbe Gabusu VI called for unity in the NPP and admonished all members and sympathisers to eschew violence in settling their differences. He prayed for God’s blessings for Joe Ghartey and his campaign.

Togbe Ayim, who is a lawyer and chief of Bla, said he has known Joe Ghartey for many years and described him as a man of action rather than words. “I can tell you that Joe Ghartey is not simply accomplished in the law but he is a faithful servant of the NPP who knows the Volta terrain, the people and our problems very well. He is someone who will never forget us when he wins power, I assure you”, the Bla chief said.

Joe Ghartey must beat six other contestants to become the Flag-bearer of the NPP. The others contesting him include the party’s two-time presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, former trade ministers Alan Kyeremanten and Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku; former Information Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng; and MPs Kofi Osei Ameyaw and Francis Addai Nimoh.

About 800 Delegates will whittle down the number of aspirants to five in Sunday’s Super Delegates’ Conference. Subsequently, an Electoral College of 141,000 Delegates will elect one of the last five as Flag-bearer on October 18.