Abdul-Raheem eyes Wa seat
Mr Ali Abdul-Raheem, a 52-year-old tutor, has decided to contest as an independent candidate the November Parliamentary election in the Wa Central Constituency in the Upper West Region (UWR).
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His decision to enter the competition is due to his conviction that over the years, the wishes and concerns of the youth have not been met by those they voted for.
“I want to support the youth”, he said.
Campaigning with the slogan, “The Youth; Drop That Yam”, Mr Abdul-Raheem, popularly known as ‘Lobilo’, started his political life in 1991 with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Wa. After assisting the party to win political power in 2000, he realised that the executive members engaged in power struggle and did not help the youth.
He, therefore, defected in 2002 and became a staunch member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for which he became the Deputy Wa Central Constituency Organiser from 2004 to 2008. He worked assiduously for the NDC and the incumbent MP, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, to ride over the storm and retain political power.
But over the years, he realised the wishes and concerns of the youth were still not being met. So, according to him, most of the youth who have known him as a trailblazer over the years have urged him to enter the parliamentary race and salvage the constituency from its present predicament of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment, among other problems.
An educationist and footballer, he believes the area needs a dynamic and experienced person who will remain loyal to the cause of the youth to harness and develop their potential for a positive change in their lives and pockets and give them a bright future.
“So far, the current MP has neglected and detached himself from the people, hence their decision for me to contest him in order to do what he has failed to do for them. For the past 24 years, no MP has been able to think about their welfare.
Now, it is time for a positive change. I owe anybody who needs financial support to further his or her education in the constituency,” he said.
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Because of all these, Mr Abdul-Raheem indicated, he had decided to give in to their request and stand as an independent candidate. To the youth who are urging him on, he said he was ready and had accepted their call. He urged them, as the future leaders of the country, to come out massively to vote for him to champion their cause as the new MP.
His symbol is a white star which represents a new hope for the youth.