Ursula Owusu Ekuful - Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma West Constituency
Theophilus Nii Ayerkwei Tetteh, a former Ablekuma-West Parliamentary aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is lacing his boots to contest the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Madam Ursula Owusu Ekuful as an independent candidate.
His decision to go independent was premised by what he described as the creation of unequal playing field by the national leadership of the NPP to make sure their candidate wins the parliamentary primaries.
He explains his reasons for his withdrawal from the NPP parliamentary primary race in the constituency that executives allowed the incumbent MP to manipulate the process to her favor and also allowed two registers to be used.
In an exclusive interview with the New Crusading GUIDE on Saturday, the former chairman indicated that his decision was mainly influenced by calls from the grassroots who were witnesses to the ‘unfair’ treatment meted out to him.
“…they believe that the best way was not to join any political party but to contest as an independent candidate so they will eventually vote for me. They have confidence in me, believing that when I become their parliamentarian the constituency will see massive change”, he added.
According former NPP executive, people are angry with the incumbent MP and have vowed not to vote for her, so the risk of losing the seat to the National Democratic Congress Candidate (NDC) who is equally incapable of developing the constituency was another reason he was made to join the race independently.
The Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the NPP, Adam Sabo was on record at Citi FM to have stated that National Executives of the party “have been trying to talk to him to rescind his decision but it is like all has fallen on deaf ears. As I speak the regional conflict resolution committee is still working on it”.
Mr. Tetteh however debunked the issue and said nobody from the regional or national office had approached him to return to the party. “But even if they do, it will be late because my campaign is on and I need to win votes, every vote counts you know”.
“In any case, many people, including the council of elders in the constituency told them about the introduction of things that were alien to the primaries but they went on to organize such a farcical flawed elections and now they want to talk to me?, he asked.
The independent aspirant is very optimistic he would win the parliamentary seat after the general elections hinting that, he is not only being hailed by members of the NPP but also people from the other parties because they have seen his works and they know he is capable of representing them well in parliament.
When asked what he was going to do differently as an MP, he said he would avail himself to the constituents, try to identify all their problems and make sure their challenges are addressed.
With developmental projects, Mr. Tetteh intimated that he will lobby for a befitting polyclinic for Dansoman, a storm drain from Mallam Junction into the sea to help avert flooding in areas like Otodzor, and surrounding towns any time it rains.
Already he has constructed a water defense at Ham down to prevent water from entering homes, covets at Tunga for easy crossing of the road, levelled the road at Mpoase Township for easy access of the road.
He says he is about levelling the roads at Opeteykwei last stop station and Nazarawa where trips of sand have been heaped for work to commence soon, adding they are all to show example that if he wins the seat, he will channel his energy into developing the constituency.
He therefore warned people in NPP to desist from making false statements about him being sponsored by the NDC to scuttle NPP votes.
