NPP aspirant who stormed vetting with gun disqualified; supporters defiant

The Central Region Security Coordinator, John Ofori Atta, was one of the aspirants disqualified after vetting of candidates for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) primary in the Atwima Mponua Constituency.

According to sources, Mr Ofori Atta was accused of bringing a gun to the vetting premises in Santasi, Kumasi though he said he did not bring the gun there to cause trouble.

He is reported to have told the vetting officials that he brought the gun to protect himself as a security coordinator.

But the main reason for his disqualification has been pointed to the fact that he has never voted in the constituency before.

Allegations are rife that he votes in the Central Region, where he has been made the Security Coordinator.

But a section of NPP supporters are suspecting foul play as they claim the Youth and Sports Minister and current Member of Parliament, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, had always seen Mr Ofori Atta as a threat to him in the parliamentary primary.

“I suspect Mr Asiamah paid money to the vetting team to disqualify Mr Ofori Atta,” one of the suporters at the vetting premises alleged.

Another contestant, a lady, was disqualified after the vetting because she is said to have not voted in Ghana before.

Mr Asiamah will contest the primary unopposed.

But the supporters are protesting this.

“Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, still we will not vote for you so consider heavy defeat,” a supporter posted on his Facebook wall.

According to them, Mr Asiamah has been Atwima Mponua MP for so many years but there is no single project he can pinpoint as his achievement.