NDC cries foul over devt projects in Odododiodio

The Odododiodio constituency has witnessed some phase lift in the run up to next Tuesday?s bye-election.

Over the last couple of weeks streetlights have been erected and there are moves to redo some streets within the constituency.

Capitalising on these changes leading members of the ruling New Patriotic Party are promising more development projects in return for a vote for the party?s candidate Lennox Asafoaste Mankata.

Officials of the NPP say the projects initiated by the metropolitan assembly are not intended to influence voters, but the NDC disagrees.

The events in the Odododiodio constituency are just snippets of how politicians both past and present have capitalised on incumbency to win elections.

It came up very strongly during last year?s general elections and it?s sure to come up again in future bye-elections and in the 2008 general election.

There?s still no scientifically tested way to ascertain whether these hurriedly done projects actually influence voters.

Whether it does or not, it raises a fundamental question about the electorates understanding of what an MP?s job is?

The president of hawkers in Accra for instance believes the construction of market stalls for his members is directly linked to who emerges winner in the Odododiodio bye-election.

He is therefore urging his members to vote for an NPP candidate.

?The opposition cannot do anything for traders as compared to when the NDC was in power. NDC was trying to get a place for traders and they did at Agbogbloshie and when you come to Metropol lane, they closed the road for traders to do their business.

We were talking in behalf of the NDC because the NDC was in power, you so when another government comes into power we have to support that government so that we can get a place to do our business.

We only want a place to do our business peacefully. So we are pleading with those who have got votes there to vote for the NPP candidate, that is all we are saying,? he said.

But supporters of the NDC are crying fowl and raising alarm about the abuse of incumbency. Nii Lamptey Vanderpuye is a leading NDC member in the area.

?It is a pity that a principles government would want to use bye election as a bait to hoodwink the people into deciding what is good. As a government you are responsible for the development of the country no matter the circumstances and time. It should be progressive, fair and justified.

There shouldn?t be any selective distribution of resources in development. All of a sudden within days streetlight are being erected in the centre of Accra that already had light,? he said.

Considering that the NPP inherited this tactic from the NDC, Nii Lamptey concerns may not be much.

But looking at the bigger picture such campaign strategies raise questions about the electorates understanding of what an MP?s job is supposed to be.

It also brings to the fore the MP?s own understanding of their roles and responsibilities and the political campaigning culture which pushes politicians to make promises of development projects.

Ghana runs a decentralised system, which makes district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies responsible for development projects.

Perhaps if the National Commission on Civic Education ?NCCE did its job well enough then, both candidates and their constituents will clearly appreciate what MP?s can do and what they can?t do.