NDC youth in Evalue Gwira protest against party primary

Members of the Concerned National Democratic Congress (NDC) Youth of Evalue Ajomoro Gwira, have called on the leadership of the party to ensure a level playing field for all contestants in the upcoming parliamentary primaries.

The group in a release copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday said they are “aware of an attempt by the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) to ensure the disqualification of his contender, Mr Herbert Kuah Dickson with the allegations of not hailing from the area”.

The release was signed by Messrs Bukari Akansisey, Convener, Frank Somiah Andoh, Organiser and Patrick Andoh.

“Everybody you interview either in Axim and its environs as well as the Southern and Northern Gwira, echoes the same statement that the party risk losing the seat if he (Mr Kwaku Tanikiyi Kessie) is made to contest again.

“We are appealing to the regional executives to desist from using any form of Mafia tactics to disqualify Mr Dickson with the flimsy allegation that he doesn't vote in the constituency, since we the youth are waiting and watching carefully the purported attempts to disqualify Mr Dickson from contesting and allowing the incumbent MP, Mr Kwaku Tanikiyi Kessie to go unopposed.”

The release said the angry youth have threatened to vote skirt and blouse if the Western Regional executives impose on them the incumbent MP since the party risks losing the seat to the New Patriotic Party.

Meanwhile, in a rebuttal, the incumbent MP, Mr Kissie told the GNA in an interview that the allegations against him are false.

He said it is not true that he is doing everything possible to disallow people to contest him in the primary.

“Who I’m I to prevent anybody to contest; I’m not blocking anybody to contest. I went through a contest and will not disallow any contender to do same,” he stressed. He said as a law abiding fellow, he is ready to follow the rules of engagement in the contest since he also came to power through a similar contest.

"In this job of ours you need to renew your mandate every four years. If you don't get a renewal from the people, that shouldn’t be the end of life. Nobody is born to be honorable forever," the MP said.

Mr Kessie said anybody who has any grievances should use the appropriate channels in the NDC to address such issues and not resort to the media or the court, since the party disallows such conduct.

He said the Evalue Ajomoro Gwira Seat is a safe seat for the NDC because of the work the party has done over the past three years in the area and in the country as a whole so nobody should be afraid that NDC would lose the seat to any party.