NDC only spends on areas it has interest – NPP

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Eastern Regional First Vice-Chairman, Alhaji Umar Bodinga, has accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of not having the interest of the people of Abuakwa North constituency at heart.

According to the NPP Vice-Chair, because the NDC has pulled out of the Abuakwa North by-election being held today, government has refused to ensure any developmental project ahead of the election, a situation that the party sees as unfair to the good people of the area.

Ahead of every by-election over the years, governments in power spend huge sums of monies in constituencies where the elections are to be held, constructing roads, erecting streetlights and other forms of developmental projects in a bid to win votes from the constituents.

But speaking on Okay FM on Tuesday, Alhaji Umar Bodinga stated that the government has showed that it ensures development in areas where by-elections are being held where it has a huge interest.

“The roads from Kukurantumi to Suhyen is bad; because the NDC is not taking part in this election, the government has turned a blind eye to their plight. Not even a penny has been spent on any developmental projects in Abuakwa North ahead of this by-elections because this has not been done, the people are angry and have vowed not to vote for the NDC in the general election."

He added: “In the recent past by-elections in Amenfi West and Talensi we saw government doing a lot of projects in these two towns ahead of the polls, why not do the same for Abuakwa North? If government says it brings development in towns where by-elections are to be held, this is the time that it should have shown love to Abuakwa North.”

Meanwhile, about 40,000 voters in Abuakwa North constituency in the Eastern Region are expected to vote today (Tuesday) to elect a new Member of Parliament for the area following the murder of the former MP, J.B Danquah Adu last month.

The by-election is taking place in 69 polling stations.

The NPP’s Gifty Twum Ampofo is being challenged by Samuel Frimpong of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) and the United People’s Party’s Isaac Kwarteng.

The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) pulled out of the by-election because according to a statement signed by the General Secretary of the party, they were “stunned by the death of the late MP Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu, particularly circumstances surrounding his gruesome murder that brought the nation to a standstill.”

Returning Officer of the Electoral Commission for Abuakwa North, Offei Danso has said his outfit has taken receipt of all electoral materials and they are ready to conduct a free and fair election.