Tension mounts as wives of late Agyarko fights over Ayawaso West seat

Tension is simmering as wives of late Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Emmanuel Kyerematen Agyarko fights over who to contest the seat in the upcoming by-elections.

Reports indicate that the two wives of the late MP are in somewhat of a tussle in a bid to take over the vacant seat.

Meanwhile, a group calling itself concerned delegates of Ayawaso West Wuogon have petitioned the leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to allow only the first and legitimate wife of the late MP, Naana Agyarko to contest the upcoming by-elections on the ticket of the party.

According to them, they will boycott the elections should the party fail to present Mrs. Naana Agyarko as the parliamentary candidate for the area.

Lydia and Naana Agyarko although bereaved by the sudden death of their husband, are also not leaving any stone unturned in pursing their political goals.

However, the group have chosen Naana over Lydia, on grounds of she being the legitimate wife of the late MP.

The petition states “Over the last days since we lost our Member of Parliament, Hon. Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko some people from his quarters have started pushing for one Lydia Alhassan, a “supposed second wife” of the late Hon. Agyarko be made the Parliamentary candidate of our Party ahead of the bye-elections”.

Read Full Petition

Dear Sir,

PETITION-NO NAANA AGYARKO-NO VOTE,

It is with a heavy heart that we the concerned delegates of Ayawaso West Wuogon write this petition.

We are a group of over 500 delegates and we are from all the 11 electoral areas namely, Legon Electoral area A, Legon Electoral 8, Mempeasem Electoral area, Dzorwulu Electoral area, Okponglo Electoral area, Airport Electoral area, Christian centre Electoral area, Abelemkpe Electoral area. Tesano Electoral area, Westlands Electoral area, East legon Electoral area. We are from all the 137 polling stations in the constituency.

Over the last days since we lost our Member of Parliament, Hon. Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko some people from his quarters have started pushing for one Lydia Alhassan, a “supposed second wife” of the late Hon. Agyarko be made the Parliamentary candidate of our Party ahead of the bye-elections.

Those pushing this agenda make reference to the case of Asutufi South constituency in the 2000 parliamentary elections where prior to the elections, Professor Djan Amoah, the late husband of Madam Cecilia who had returned from Zimbabwe and stood on the ticket of the NPP for the seat, reportedly died mysteriously.

Madam Cecilia Amoah, his legitimate and legally wedded wife went ahead to win the elections on the ticket of the NPP. Meanwhile the petition has been rejected by the party.

They have been asked to go back and tell their leadership because what is happening is putting both the party and the wives in bad light

The late MP passed on November 21 at a hospital in the United States after a protracted ailment. It is however unclear when the by-election to select a new MP for the area would take place.