Kwabena Amankwah
Executives and members of the New Patriotic Party in the Krowor constituency
have been urged to support Ayikoi Otoo to realize his dream of annexing the
Krowor seat for the party in the 2012 elections.
This, according to Daniel Ayaaba Musah, an Area Coordinator of the party, will
not only ensure that the constituency gets a highly qualified and influential MP
who is development-focused, but will also make others realize that their
sacrifice for the constituency will one day be recognized and rewarded
accordingly.
The former Attorney General and Minister for Justice in the Kufuor
administration contested the 2008 parliamentary election, but lost to the
incumbent Quaye Kumah of the ruling National Democratic Congress.
Dr Kumah, a deputy Health Minister, has become so unpopular to the constituents
that his donation to the Zongo community to support the recent Ramadan
celebration was even rejected by the people.
Many people believe the legal luminary lost the seat to the incumbent MP as a
result of the bad blood that existed between him and a faction in the Nungua
chieftaincy dispute, triggered off by his role as a counsel for one of the
feuding parties.
The disaffection of the people, many of whom are said to be NPP members, led to
“skirt and blouse” voting in the parliamentary election.
Speaking in an interview, Daniel Ayaaba was optimistic that now that Mr Ayikoi
has ceased to be a counsel in the case, and has also reconciled with the people,
the stumbling block that stood in his way to becoming the MP for the area has
been removed.
“It is now clear that the people are now ready to support him to represent them
in parliament because they are enthused about the kind of help he has been
providing for them even though he is not the MP. And in this regard, we as a
party cannot deny the people what they want. Just as we did for the nation when
they spoke through various avenues that they wanted Nana Akufo-Addo, we also
have to listen to our constituents and return Hon Ayikoi Otoo to them,” Mr
Ayaaba explained.
Daniel Ayaaba commended the senior lawyer for what he termed “his unmatched
contribution” to the growth of the NPP in the constituency as well as the
general development of the area.
“This is a man who has been using his own resources to finance party activities
single-handedly; he pays school fees for wards of party executives; he has
assisted many people to secure jobs; he secured MASLOC loans for many women; he
always donates to our brothers in the Zongo community during the periods of
fasting; he has provided poly-tanks for them, assisted them with streets lights
and many others. This is the kind of person we need as MP,” he stressed.
The opposition NPP is tentatively billed to elect its parliamentary candidates
in “orphan” constituencies in February, 2011.
Grassroots pressure is being mounted on Mr Ayikoi Otoo to seek re-election as
the party’s candidate for Krowor. Indications are clear that the legal luminary
will contest the seat again. His major challenger in the primary is likely to be
Adjei Boye, a former MP for the constituency, who has started moving round the
constituency to “test the waters.”
