‘Juju’ scare hits NDC

The resignation of some elected parliamentary aspirants of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party has been linked to suspected juju-induced sicknesses.

So far, three elected NDC parliamentary aspirants have resigned, paving the way for fresh primaries to elect new aspirants for this year’s general elections.

Two of those who resigned are from the Eastern Region while one is from the Greater Accra Region.

They are Anthony Gyima, parliamentary aspirant for the Abuakwa North Constituency in the Eastern Region; and Joseph Amankwah, incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) who won the primaries to contest the seat again in the Upper West Akyem Constituency, also in the Eastern Region; as well as E.B. Borketey, parliamentary aspirant for the Krowor Constituency in the Greater Accra Region.

The issue of using juju in internal party contests is an age-old accusation.

Anthony Gyima – Abuakwa North

The resignation of Anthony Gyima is embroiled in controversy as allegations are rife that he was forced to step down to pave way for Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Emmanuel Victor Smith, who the regional executives believe has a better chance of annexing the seat for the party.

E.B. Borketey - Krowor

The parliamentary candidate for the Krowor Constituency, E.B. Borketey, a.k.a. Amoosha, stepped down over ill-health.

Information gathered from party insiders in the constituency reveals that Mr Borketey suffered from a mild stroke but is responding to treatment.

Some supporters of the aspirant are harbouring suspicions that some party members who do not want Mr Borketey to become MP used juju to cause the mild stroke.

According to the supporters, the incumbent MP, Dr Nii Oakley Quaye-Kumah, who won the seat in 2012, had been bedridden for the past three years, and they suspect his sickness was juju induced.

They also alleged that Dr Quaye-Kumah only regained his health when he decided not to contest the primaries of the NDC this year.

Based on the experience of Dr Quaye-Kumah, Mr Borketey’s supporters suspect that his mild stroke could be the result of a juju spell.

As a result, they are of the view that Mr Borketey resigned to save his life. They, however, fall short of pointing accusing fingers at any individual.

Joseph Amankwah – Upper West Akyem

In the case of Mr Joseph Amankwah, the MP for the Upper West Akyem Constituency of the Eastern Region, he assigned personal reasons for his resignation, but there are speculations that he threw in the towel as a result of ill-health.

Some party insiders suspect that the MP’s sickness is juju-induced. According to them, the MP took the seat from an incumbent who served only one term.

Consequently, Mr Amankwah was expected to also serve one term and give way to another candidate to also serve.

It is, therefore, believed that Mr Amankwah’s victory in the primaries did not go down well with some people in the party.

The insiders could, however, not name any particular person as the one behind the juju-induced sickness, even though they have their own suspicions.