Sefwi Wiawso (W/R), May 16, GNA - Dr Kwaku Afriyie, former Minister of State in the Kufuor Administration has renewed his bid to represent Sefwi Wiawso Constituency in the Western Region, in Parliament to continue with the national agenda and 93complete unfinished business".
Dr Afriyie, previous Minister of Health and Lands and Forestry lost to the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, who is also the Regional Minister in Election 2008.
He told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Sefwi Wiawso that as a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), he was of the view that his political model, Dr J.B. Danquah's ideas about liberal economy and democratic governance had won the day and was therefore seeking election to parliament to strengthen the process.
"I want to go to parliament on my own steam and make the work of am MP more important than that of a minister. As a cocoa farmer I will also champion the welfare of farmers in Parliament," he said. Dr Afriyie said service to his people started long ago, adding "as a Consultant Physician I decided to stay in the rural areas to serve the people when I could have made money elsewhere".
He said as a MP he would deepen the debate about the need for government to develop the Western Region, which is credited for supporting the national economy with cocoa and other natural resources, and now the oil and gas industry.
Dr Afriyie said although there were other least developed regions in the country, the returns in developing the Western Region could facilitate the progress of other parts of Ghana. Making a case for his constituency he said: "Politically or economically Sefwi Wiaswo is the cocoa capital of the world.
The cocoa crop we owe is the best yielding crop in the world. "Cocoa is affecting so many lives in the world with about 12 million people dependent on the cocoa in Ghana."
He spoke against the exploitation of children in cocoa farms at the expense of their education and general wellbeing. He said although the NPP had not won the Sefwi Wiawso Constituency seat before, he expressed the hope that his chances were fairer than before, adding that he was so much in touch with the people and their activities that last three years he was adjudged the best Produce Buying Company Cocoa Farmer at Akontombra. Dr Afriyie who currently operates a private medical centre- Greenshield Hospital in Sefwi Wiawso was tasked by the Kufuor Regime to start the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
He said although there were a lot of problems to do with the financing of the NHIS, the one term premium suggested by the government was not the right approach.
"Insurance comprises premium and periodicity, so one term premium is no longer an insurance policy, 93he argued. Dr Afriyie who is a member of the National Council of the NPP was the First Vice Chairman of the Party from 1996-1998 and Second National Vice Chairman from 1998-2000.
He was a Member of the NPP National Campaign Team from 1998-2001. Dr Afriyie who is a fellow of Ghana College of Physicians is into cola nuts, oil palm and nut meg plantation.
