Chief Loses NPP Primaries

... his back to palace also under threat
NANA ASAFO Adjei, the defeated parliamentary aspirant in the Amansie West constituency is in a state of confusion, having failed woefully in his bid to represent his constituents in parliament on the ticket of the NPP.

Meanwhile, supporters of the nana Safo and observers are wondering whether the man who adicated his stool to go into politics will be accepted as chief haven't shown such a poltical bias.

Chiefs are not allowed to dabble in politics according to law.

Nana Asafo Adjei, a man whose dream of becoming a politician began about twelve years ago abdicated his position as chief of Manso Odaho to contest the NPP primaries. He lost the race and polled a miserable 35 votes.

Mr. Kofi Krah Mensah, the 62 year old project manager of the Promoting Partnership with Traditional Authorities Project (PPTAP) of the Asanteman Council polled 147 votes to emerge the Parliamentary candidate for the Amansie West NPP constituency.

The scanty votes secured by Nana Adjei are believed to have come from supporters of the sitting MP, Hon. Stephen Cobbinah Buor-Karikari who was disqualified at the eleventh hour.

In 1992 Nana Adjei had to contest the NPP primaries thrice before he emerged winner but luck eluded him because the NPP eventually had to boycott the elections.

Undaunted, Nana Adjei again vied for the seat in 1996 but lost to Anthony Boakye Yiadom, who was unfortunately dropped for Buor-Karikari in 2000 for dabbling in visa racketeering.

Perhaps out of frustration, the ex-chief decided not to contest the primaries in 2000. Instead he chose to eye the post of a District Chief Executive and was one of 12 applicants but as always luck once again eluded him.

He was not even one of the four short-listed for the position. The post went to the current DCE, Mr. Ben Kwakye Adeefe.

Meanwhile, Messrs Owusu Amponsah and Stephen Nkrumah, polling station chairmen of Manso Kwankyeabo and Dadieso respectively were disallowed to contest for the Antoakrom primary.

They dragged the NPP to court against the disqualification of the sitting MP Buor-Karikari, which suit Mr. Justice Kwame Ansu Gyeabour's High court dismissed on point of law.

NPP sources close to The Chronicle indicated that the two stand the risk of facing disciplinary action within the party.

In another development, Miss Dorothy Addae, one of the plaintiffs who filed the writ against the NPP and tried to restrain the party from excluding Buor-Karikari in the primaries might also face a court action for impersonation.

Ms. Addae is said to have claimed an the affidavit filed before the Kumasi High Court on August 26, 2004 that she was the party's constituency women's organizer. This is said be false.