NDC MP Snubs DCE At People's Forum

In a manner reminiscent of the tension that existed between opposition and government party parliamentarians, Hon. Ama Benyiwa Doe last week avoided shaking hands with her District Chief Executive (DCE) at a People's Forum.

The incident, which could be described as animosity, took place at Mumford in the Gomoa district. Though it happened at the blind side of the majority of the large crowd at the town's lorry park, venue of the forum, it was not long before it was told to the whole gathering.

When the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gomoa West arrived at the function, she refused to shale hands with the DCE, Ms Joyce Aidoo, though as custom demanded she shook hands with the other dignitaries.

The attention of the gathering was drawn to the incident, during the usual question and answer time by Alex Abban, a student of the University of Ghana, Legon.

Abban next demanded an explanation for what had been peddled around for sometime as enmity or bad blood between the two top political office holders in the district.

Reacting to the statement Ms. Benyiwa Doe asserted or explained that on arrival at the podium, she could not reach where the DCE was seated to shake hands with her due to the arrangement of the chairs.

She, however, continued that she could have also snubbed the DCE even if the chairs had not impeded her, recalling that the DCE had earlier brushed aside her hand when she attempted to exchange greetings with her at a function at Gomoa Tarkwa in the district.

She averred that despite the unhealthy incident, she had taken the pains to interact with the DCE anytime they met.

In response to another question, the MP reiterated that no government in power could complete all projects it had initiated and that led to the completion of some NDC projects by the NPP government alongside the initiation of new ones.

She stated that democracy is dynamic and must be helped to grow in this country.

She claimed to be the brain behind the formation of the Gomoa District but could not put in place all the social and utility services needed to serve the district capital, Apam, during the NDC era.

For the records Ms Benyiwa Doe is the only opposition MP who bothered to attend the People's Assembly in the Central region; the others failed to show up at Abura Dunkwa, Elmina and Twifo Praso.

In an interview with a cross-section of participants at the Mumford forum, it was learnt that the DCE, Miss Aidoo, is poised to contest the seat on the ticket of the NPP in the 2004 elections, hence the political rivalry.