Losing candidates must accept wave of change in NPP — Ahenkorah
An Aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary ticket in the Tema West Constituency, Mr Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, has called on losing candidates in the just-ended NPP parliamentary primaries to accept the wave of change that has hit many of the big constituencies nationwide.
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According to him, while many of the sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) lost the primaries, their wealth of experience could be useful towards attaining the desired victory at the 2016 polls.
Tsunami
Mr Ahenkorah, who spoke to the Daily Graphic in the wake of the political Tsunami that has hit some party bigwigs at the just-ended parliamentary primaries nationwide, commended the delegates, describing them as having showed maturity and a good sense of patriotism.
He indicated that while many of the experienced sitting MPs lost out, it would equally provide opportunity for young people to also gain the needed experience should many of them emerge victorious in 2016.
Reach out
Mr Ahenkorah, who is contesting the Tema West seat on the party's ticket, was of the view that the party must reach out to former MPs whose attempts at coming back were unsuccessful.
“These people possess huge experience in the political terrain and could serve as mentors or advisors to young people who are taking over the mantle from them,” he indicated.
“The situation where a former Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Osei-Aidoo, was totally forgotten and abandoned after he lost his primaries in 2008 must not be allowed to continue. We need every individual on board to ensure a successful victory at the 2016 polls,” Mr Ahenkorah stressed.
Tema West
The elections in the Tema West Constituency, which were suspended on the grounds of an appeal filed by the incumbent MP, Ms Naa Torshie Addo, against Mr Ahenkorah and a third candidate, Mrs Adwoa Amoako, will come off this Saturday.
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A petition at the party's national appeals committee, praying the committee to disqualify the two on the grounds that Mr Ahenkorah was not a voter in the constituency has since been ruled on to pave the way for Mr Ahenkorah and Mrs Amoako to contest the incumbent MP.
Mr Ahenkorah, who described the ruling as a step in the right direction, indicated that the petition should not have been entertained at the national level, “especially when the Regional Appeals Committee have found the claims in the petition to be frivolous.”
Fair competition
Mr Ahenkorah called for fair competition in the run-up to the constituency’s primaries.
“As a party with its roots embedded in the rule of law, we must ensure there is fair competition for all manner of people and not select few. The possibility of our party losing the Tema West seat is high should the incumbent MP be allowed to go uncontested,” Mr
Ahenkorah emphasised when asked whether he would have gone independent had the national appeals committee upheld the earlier constituency ruling that disqualified him.
Unity
“It's sad to note that the constituency, which has always enjoyed peace and quiet over the years, has now fallen into misunderstandings, disintegration, chaos, and confusion,” he bemoaned.
The above, he stressed, had adversely affected the confidence of many party members in the constituency.
“I see the state of confusion and unrest that had characterised recent occurrences in the constituency as a hurdle we need to surmount in our quest to wrest power at the national level.
“My main preoccupation is to pull the constituency together bringing back the peace and quiet that once existed in it. A victory for any of the three of us contesting must be seen as a victory for the NPP and no single individual.
“I know that Nana Addo’s leadership will be satisfied with the outcome of the results, and will work with anyone that will be elected on June 27,” he said.
Mr Ahenkorah expressed the hope that the weeks ahead would restore unity, confidence and hope to the people.
Writer’s email: delarussel@gmail.com