Ensure level playing field or risk losing Yilo seat – Group to NDC leadership

The National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been called upon to ensure a level playing field for all aspiring parliamentary aspirants vying for the parliamentary ticket of the party or risk losing the seat in next year’s general elections.

A petition signed by Emmanuel Akumatey Okrah, the Constituency Communication Officer and Spokesperson for the group on behalf of fourteen past and current executives, cadres and stakeholders of the Yilo Krobo State said the party must be guided by incidents that led to the NDC losing its parliamentary seat in Upper Manya in 2016 as a result of voter apathy.

“We send this caution fully aware of incidents that led to the NDC losing the seat in our sister Krobo Constituency, Upper Manya. The signals prevailing in this case are similar to those that occurred in 2015 at Upper Manya Constituency and we do not want to see the Yilo Krobo seat slip away from the NDC,” the petition warned.

“The indications in the recent developments are that, a disqualification for one aspirant would result in serious voter apathy leading to sharp divisions on our front, which would greatly affect our chances at retaining the seat.”

Mr. Okrah who warned that it would resist all attempts to impose a candidate on them said determination of which candidate best serves the interest of the party should be left for the delegates to decide.

“...our delegates, as well as the voter population are not ready to accept any attempt to impose a candidate on us through the disqualification of one aspirant. It is our trusted delegates who know which of the aspirants has served the party well,” he said.

The petition said it was joining calls by some 80 branch executives for the inclusion of all three parliamentary aspirants in the party’s parliamentary primaries.

“We join the call of the Eighty (80) Branch Chairpersons (out of 133) who have indicated that, all three (3) aspirants in the Yilo Parliamentary race (Hon Andrews Sodah, Mr Michael Ologo and Mr Albert Tetteh Nyakotey) must be allowed to Contest,” the petition indicated.

The petitioners who said they are inspired by the victory of some first time aspirants including “a Policeman in active Service retiring a few days to elections” and “members of other Constituencies in Ghana or members of overseas Branches of the NDC” noted that victories for the likes of John Dumelo and Kofi Adams underscored the conviction by the delegates in who in their respective constituencies can give the needed votes to the NDC.

“We write this letter bearing in mind that, there is another group calling for the disqualification of Mr. Albert Tetteh Nyakotey, one of the Aspirants. We add our voice to the other group that is calling for all three (3) Aspirants to contest so that our discerning delegates would have the opportunity to choose who they really want to be on the Party's Parliamentary ticket,” the petition stated.

Read the full statement below:

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC)

CONCERNED CONSTITUENCY EXECUTIVES - YILO KROBO

27TH AUGUST, 2019

THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC)

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS, ADABRAKA - ACCRA.

PETITION:

YILO KROBO PARLIAMENTARY PRIMARIES - ALLOW ALL THREE (3) ASPIRANTS TO CONTEST.

The undersigned, comprises of Current Constituency Executives of the Yilo Krobo Constituency, Former Constituency Executives, Cadres and Stakeholders of the Yilo Krobo State who are concerned about recent developments in the Constituency relative to the Parliamentary Primaries and we wish to make our position known to the Party Hierarchy.

We join the call of the Eighty (80) Branch Chairpersons (out of 133) who have indicated that, all three (3) aspirants in the Yilo Parliamentary race (Hon Andrews Sodah, Mr Michael Ologo and Mr Albert Tetteh Nyakotey) must be allowed to Contest.

This we do, mindful of the guidelines for the conduct of the Parliamentary elections and we are making our views known as a matter of principle, and for the fact that, as Constituency Executives, Former Constituency Executives, Cadres and Stakeholders of the Yilo Krobo State, we do have a say in the Democratic processes of the Constituency.

We are inspired by the smooth execution of the Democratic Processes in other Constituencies where elections were held over the weekend and we are happy to see First-time Contestants winning to have the opportunity to enter Parliament on the ticket of the NDC.

We do observe that, most of the victorious first-time aspirants in some of these Constituencies prior to the recent Primaries were either members of other Constituencies in Ghana or members of overseas Branches of the NDC.

We are inspired to see a Policeman in active Service, retiring a few days to elections but winning the opportunity to be on the NDC's Parliamentary ticket for the 2020 Parliamentary Elections in the his Constituency.

We are also happy to see Mr John Dumelo, winning the Ayawaso West Primaries and Mr Kofi Adams winning the Buem Constituency Primaries. These are personalities who in the wisdom of Delegates of their respective Constituencies can give the needed votes to the NDC as we strive for power come 2020. They were all cleared to contest in these Constituencies, without any controversies nor hiccups.

This has been our anticipation in the case of Yilo Krobo, but unfortunately, that is not what we are witnessing. It was our expectation that, Yilo Krobo, a stronghold of the NDC, would be celebrating together with other Constituencies who now have their Parliamentary Candidates. We are rather disappointed our elections has been put on hold.

But, we do believe that, there is still an opportunity to right the wrong. We write this letter bearing in mind that, there is another group calling for the disqualification of Mr Albert Tetteh Nyakotey, one of the Aspirants.

We add our voice to the other group that is calling for all three (3) Aspirants to contest so that our discerning Delegates would have the opportunity to choose who they really want to be on the Party's Parliamentary ticket.

As leadership takes a decision to bring finality to the matter of the hold up in Yilo Primaries, it is our prayer that the Party hierarchy takes into consideration the support base of all the Aspirants in the race; that, our delegates, as well as the voter population are not ready to accept any attempt to impose a candididate on us through the Disqualification of one Aspirant.

It is our trusted Delegates who know which of the Aspirants has served the party well. They are the ones who know which of the Aspirants has been with them and which Aspirant keep solving their problems. They must be made to decide.

We send this caution fully aware of incidents that led to the NDC losing the seat in our sister Krobo Constituency, Upper Manya. The signals prevailing in this case are similar to those that occured in 2015 at Upper Manya Constituency and we do not want to see the Yilo Krobo seat slip away from the NDC.

The indications in the recent developments are that, a Disqualification for one Aspirant would result in serious voter aparthy leading to sharp divisions on our front, which would greatly affect our chances at retaining the seat. It is important to state that, as a stronghold, we won the Parliamentary seat in 2016 with a margin of 7,500 votes. This figure needs improvement if we are serious about wining 2020.

We have worked tirelessly since we assumed office and we cannot allow a matter that has a solution to degenerate into an incurable problem.

It is our hope that, you would pick a voice that says all three (3) Aspirants be made to contest over a voice that says one Candidate must be disqualified for another to sail through.

We also demand as part of our plea, that a date for elections in Yilo Krobo be fixed, appropriate and convenient for all three (3) Aspirants. We need a united front to fight the NPP come 2020.

We count on your usual cooperation.

Thank you.

Signed.......................

Emmanuel Akumatey Okrah

(Constituency Communication Officer) and Spokesperson for the group.

On behalf of:

1. Jerry Djan Alexander (Constituency Youth Organizer) 0249999779

2. Levis Kakutey Matthew (Deputy Constituency Youth Organizer) 0243623483

3. Rita Akosua Awatey (Constituency Women Organiser) 0243176187

4. Emmanuel Akumatey Okrah (Constituency Communication Officer) 0246153867

5. Yakubu Ibrahim (Constituency Zongo Caucus Coordinator) 0249161622

6. Samuel Nuertey Paddy (Deputy Constituency Communication Officer) 0243749006

7. Cynthia Odzeyem (Deputy Constituency Women Organiser) 0243273420

8. Christopher Akunor Ansah (Deputy Constituency Organizer) 0246865524

9. Francis Oklu (Constituency Executive Member) 0242089688

10. Beatrice Owiredu Apana (Constituency Executive Member) 0244294526e

11. Armstrong Amoatey Narh (Former Constituency Chairman) 0243347596

12. Adamtey Patrick Kwesi (Former Constituency Organizer) 0550809692

13. Alhaji Soumaiil (Current Regional Organizer - United Cadres Front. Eastern Region.

14. Emmanuel Padi (Former Constituency Executive Member) 0542449233

Cc: National Elections Director

Cc: Regional Chairman-Eastern

NB: For further inquiries, please call 0246153867. Emmanuel Akumatey Okrah (Constituency Communication Officer -Yilo Krobo and Spokesperson for the group)