John Dumelo explains why he pulled out from Ayawaso West Wuogon primaries

Ghanaian actor and politician John Dumelo has disclosed why pulled out of contesting for the Ayawaso West Wuogon parliamentary seat.

The star actor initially decided to run on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), but recently pulled out of the contest.

Explaining why he took this decision, Dumelo said he pulled out because residents of the Hohoe Constituency, his hometown in the Volta Region, are clamouring for him to serve as their MP.

He further dispelled rumours that he stepped down because of his opposite number in the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Rev. Edward Agyekum Kufuor, who is the son of former president John Agyekum Kufour.

The Ayawaso West Wuogon became vacant due to the unforeseen demise of MP Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko last month.

“It wasn’t because of Kufuor’s son that I stepped down, I mean that’s far from it,” Dumelo told Accra-based Class FM.

“JM [John Mahama] and [President] Nana Addo are friends but Nana Addo won’t step down for JM, [and] JM won’t step down for Nana Addo. We’re all friends but it’s a battle, it’s a democracy, so that is why we will enter into it.”

He added: “It was just on personal grounds. “I mean if it was Kufuor’s son or anybody else who was standing up against me, I don’t think they would have won. I think I would have won it hands down, [but] God’s time is the best.

“It’s God’s time; you don’t rush into certain things. There are certain times that you know that it is right, there are certain times that you know that: ‘Chale, this is not your time, it’s not right yet’.

"After all, I come from Hohoe, and Hohoe is my home and I’ve been going there for the past three or four years and they, as well, want me to come and stand there.”