If I Stand For Election Ten Times, I’ll Win - P. C. Appiah Ofori

The Member of Parliament for Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, Paul Collins Appiah Ofori has rubbished the analysis carried in the Daily Dispatch News paper in its Tuesday, October 12, 2010 edition.

The story headlined “Can Appiah Ofori Retain His Seat in 2012?” stated that, “the incumbent NPP MP, Pual Collins Appiah Ofori, was bound to have a difficult time retaining his seat.” The analysis was based on the fact that in 2004, he won by a margin of 6,806 votes and in 2008, he again beat the same NDC candidate, Ms Georgina Aboah, but this time by a margin of only 371 votes. In an interview with Emefa Apawu, host of the Big Bite on Xfm 95.1, a private commercial radio station in Accra, Ben Ephson, pollster and Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch news paper stated that the margin was smaller because some members of the New Patriotic Party in the constituency actually campaigned against him.

In the light of recent developments regarding disagreements with some prominent chiefs in the Central Region, Mr Ephson said three questions come to mind; “will Mr Appia Ofori contest the NPP primary in his constituency? If he wins, can he retain the seat? Or can the NPP retain the seat if Mr Appiah Ofori decides not to contest gain?”

However, responding to the publication, Mr Appiah Ofori said he was going to represent the people of Asikuma Odoben Brakwa for as many times as he chooses to contest the seat. Nonetheless, he indicated that this was going to be his last tenure as a member of parliament for the constituency. He said he made that pledge during the last election, adding that he was going to stand by it. “During the 2008 campaign, I made it public that by the time I finish serving my tenure, I will be 69 years, and therefore, I said I was never contesting again. And I stand by it. But I want to assure you that if I contest 10 times, I’m going to win 10 times”.

P. C. Appiah Ofori however was quick to describe the electorates in the constituency as very descending people who do not vote a candidate into power merely because of the political party he or she associates with but by looking at the personality and what he can achieve for the constituency. In this light he said if the new NPP candidate who would stand in his stead is rejected by the constituents, he would not be the one to be blamed.

Asikuma Odoben Brakwa votes for persons not parties, and so if the one who would come is not attractive to them, they would not vote for him. If that happens, it is not going to be because of me that the person has lost, and therefore, if you do bring someone and the person does not win, it is not going to be because of me”.

Story by Abena Asiedua Tenkorang/ Robert Israel Xfm 95.1 Accra, Ghana