NDC parliamentary candidate for Upper West Akyem resigns
With barely four months left for the 2016 general election, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Upper West Akyem Constituency, Mr Joseph Sam Amankwanor, has withdrawn has candidature to the surprise of most party members.
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Mr Amankwanor, who has been the NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency since January 7, 2009, tendered in his resignation in a letter dated June 21, 2016, citing his reason as personal.
The Constituency Chairman, Mr Hope Ahiagbenyo, disclosed this to the Daily Graphic at Adeiso, near Asamankese, in the Eastern Region last Thursday.
Rumours dispelled
The constituency chairman dispelled rumours that Mr Amankwanor resigned because he had dual citizenship and would, therefore, be disqualified if he retained the parliamentary seat in the upcoming general election.
Mr Ahiagbenyo said nominations had been opened today up to June 30, 2016, adding that the primary would be held at Adeiso on July 9, 2016.
He stated that two leading members in the constituency, namely Messrs Derick Assifo Bekoe, the District Chief Executive (DCE) and Henry Francis Teye, the Presiding Member of the Upper West Akyem District Assembly, had expressed interest in the primary.
The chairman said either of the two parliamentary applicants who would emerge victorious in the primary would confidently retain the seat for the NDC.
He said Mr Amankwanor replaced Mr Sallas Mensah, who was the MP for the constituency on four occasions: from January 7, 1993 to January 7, 2009 until he voluntarily resigned.
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According to Mr Ahiagbenyo, Mr Amankwanor defeated the NPP’s parliamentary candidate, Mr Eugene Sackey by 3,100 votes in the December 7, 2012 general election.
NDC stronghold
He stressed that the Upper West Akyem Constituency, which has been the stronghold of NDC since 1992, would not only retain the parliamentary seat for the party in the November 7, 2016 general election, but would also widen the gap between President Mahama and his challengers with over 10,000 votes to enhance the president’s chances in the upcoming polls.
Mr Ahiagbenyo emphasised that President Mahama had provided the area with many development projects such as electricity, potable water, the Community Day Senior High School at Kwabaa Nyanoa, which would be officially inaugurated in September, 2016 and the creation of the Upper West Akyem District, which was carved out of the West Akyem Municipality.
He said the people in the area would reciprocate the gesture of President Mahama and the NDC not only in the November 7, 2016 general election but also in subsequent elections.