Ketu North Ndc Weakens Politically, Ahead Of Election 2012!

The NDC is facing hardship in its hold of Ketu North. Clearly, the situation seems to be as a result of a long standing confusion between the MP who is also Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Hon. James Avedzi and some other leading party members. The MP is fast losing favour among the NDC party faithful and the general constituents of Ketu North to the extent that; even his own backyard electoral area of Xipe/Ative was lost in land-slide fashion to a pro-NPP man- Mr.Emmanuel Gameli Kpogo in the just ended local government election of Assemblymen. The people rejected the favourite candidate of the “hardworking MP”, claiming they wanted to show their displeasure at his varying conducts for sometime now, and also the fact that he could not continuously undermine them.

The MP, who has been accused of unpleasant and indirect exchanges with other colleagues on the floor of parliament; has according to sources lost-touch with his people now; and has allegedly, said without shame time and again that, “surely my three month allowances alone will do the trick for me during voting”, a pronouncement that the people hate. Some activists this writer spoke to say “the character of gossip and gross disrespect exhibited by the Hon. Avedzi even in parliament in recent times whiles dealing with fellow Honourable members such as Hon. Hackman Agyemang; is but a tip of what his true behaviour is among we in the NDC family here in Ketu North”. Other party folks at Dzodze/Penyi, speaking to this writer under conditions of anonymity say, it is such behaviour that is reason for the never ending fracas within the leadership of the party in the constituency. Elsewhere in the constituency e.g. at Wheta, Afife, Penyi; this writer gathers from party activists that the MP has consistently engaged in “divide and rule tactics” thereby creating general apathy and bitterness among the NDC family. The effect of the MP’s desperate greed for political power is killing our party which we all had built together around unity, stability and development many years before the Honourable came in year 2004, an angry woman activist said. And clearly the people now feel hopeless and desperate for the NDC legacy as the “Hon. MP” is said to be ruthlessly tearing it apart! That legacy of unity, stability and development witnessed in times past in Ketu North they say, is no more and the general cry on the ground now is “If it is Avedzi, then forget it!” Some “die-hards” have already started “no more voting campaigns” whiles a good portion of those in the middle are falling to other attractive parties!

Some other leading members contacted at Afife say that the MP intends relying on his cronies Madam Bertha Amenuvor of the NDC National Secretariat, Henry Ametepe the Volta Regional NDC Organiser and Joseph Amenowode the Regional Minister; as well as the long standing “issue”, Professor. Kofi Awoonor; all people who helped him to organise a “dubious executive conference” of 2009 at Xipe which brought in the existing but disputed constituency executives. The sources go on to say specifically that the idea is for them to again help him push his this time personal agenda of returning to Parliament through by hook or crook; a feeling that some die-hards say cannot see the light of day in Ketu North, because anybody who tries to “bulldoze” James Avedzi through or buy votes, will be resisted by the people. The constituents want redemption they say; from a divisive representative!

Now, a look deeper into the statistics of the recent Local Government Elections in Ketu North brings to light even more interesting revelations as far as the politics there is concerned and these are indicative of the dwindling fortunes of the umbrella party in the constituency generally, and the information was cross checked from the Electoral Commission there at Dzodze. Notably, most of the revelations had never occurred in the history of the NDC party in Ketu North before; and strategically these developments are of grave consequences to the NDC party if not checked. Embattled constituency chairman Mr. Moses Azaglo lost his backyard of Fiagbedu Electoral area to an NPP activist by name Mr. John Ahiable. The claimant to the secretary position by name Mr. Jacob Agbenusa also lost his backyard electoral area to an NPP man, and likewise Mr. Henry Ametepe the Regional Organiser, who hails from Fornyaga Electoral Area(Afife) losing out to the NPP’s Emmanuel Ahlodza for Assemblyman. Others include Mr, Akpabli the constituency treasurer losing out his backyard electoral area of Awlikorpe/Kave to Mr. John Wornoo whiles Executive Member Vincentia Amegbletor of Afiadenyigba electoral area lost her backyard to James Dewortor also of the NPP, and so on and on!

Evidently, the NDC is at the cross-roads in Ketu North. One leading member speaking under conditions of anonymity hinted that it is either the party goes by the will of the people; or the Regional and National leadership choose to follow one man Hon. James Avedzi and his cronies like a housefly to the grave i.e. destruction! It is in the interest of the NDC to be very open and the government should ensure fairness in all affairs of our young district of Ketu North he went on to say and asked that, government should ensure that what is done in Ketu North as far as party and government programs and projects is concerned is always in line with what goes on elsewhere; stressing that “we are all in this party and we love the party, thus why we are here despite all the evil!”

Writer:

O’Brian Dzaka

(Party man, Afife-Ketu North District/Constituency)