CHRONICLE sources in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Eastern Region have hinted that most of the party supporters are against the fight for candidature as MPs by some of the district chief executives (DCEs).
According to the sources, most of the supporters have described the act as a bad move, which, if it was allowed to continue unchecked, could create a lot of problems for the party next year.
The source,who made the revelation to The Chronicle at Koforidua, during an exclusive interview to access the political situation in the region, since the filing of nominations and conducting of primaries started.
He pointed out that, most of the DCEs for fear of, may be, dismissal decided to contest for candidature as MPs since they saw that position as secure once one was voted for.
But the source disclosed that, the fear being entertained by the supportors of the party, was out of fear that the opposition parties would develop propaganda out of it to snatch most of their votes.
The Chronicle can recollect that when the filing of nominations were opened, six DCEs in the region filed to contest or seek the mandate of the party as MPs.
The DCEs included Mr. Christian Kofi Tettey, DCE for Yilo Krobo, Dr. Godfred Kof Siaw, DCE for Asuogyaman, Mr. Andrews k. Teye, DCE for Manya Krobo and Mr. Anthony Anokye DCE for Afram Plains districts.
So far, two districts have held their constituency primaries, leaving two with the Yilo Krobo DCE winning and Asuogyaman DCE being defeated.
Reacting to the complaint, the Eastern Regional Chairman of NPP, Nana Adi Ankamah, saw nothing wrong with the DCEs contending for the MPs position.
He gave an example where most of the DCEs in the former government took or became MPs before leaving the political scene. He mentioned Mr. Samuel Osofo Ampofoh and Mr. Kofi Asante, who all climbed from DCE position to MPs and asked, "what was wrong with that."
The NPP Regional Chairman explained that the President, Mr. J.A. Kufuor, did not ask DCEs to contest for positions as MPs but rather recommended it where there were no sitting MPs.
Nana Adi Ankamah said he doubt that the DCEs would abuse the facilities of their assemblies,if they were given the mandate to contest as MPs.
Stay tuned for the results of the remaining two soon.
