About 20 known NDC opinion leaders in the Sekyere Afram Plains constituency have disowned their identity with the main opposition party and moved camp to the NPP.
The move follows an engagement bybthe Ashanti Regional NPP Council of Elders with leaders of the various farmer settlers and communities in the area at Drobonso.
In a bid to break the jinx of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Sekyere Afram Plains constituency the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The NDC has dominated and occupied the Sekyere Afram Plains parliamentary seat since 2012.
The defectors pleaded with the NPP to assist in the running of the Islamic School in the area as their major challenge and concern.
In 2016, Alex Adomako-Mensah of the NDC beat Joseph Owusu with 5,644 votes (60.85%) against 3,549 votes (38.26%).
The NPP failed to capture the seat in the 2020 as the NDC retained the seat by beating the NPP candidate, Joseph Gyamfi Owusu by 156 votes having improved upon the 2016 votes by 49.29% (7,923) against NDC‘s 8,079 votes (50.49%).
Last Wednesday, the Ashanti Regional NPP Council of Elders as part of frantic efforts to annex the parliamentary seat currently occupied by the opposition NDC the past 16 years, met with opinion leaders of settler farmers mostly of the northern extraction comprising Dagombas, frafras, Konkombas, Mamprusi, Kusasi, Dagartis, Moshie and Busangas all in an effort to prop up its candidate, George Akom.
Led by the NPP constituency chairman, Zakaria Rufai the defectors have announced their readiness to campaign for the NPP parliamentary candidate in the impending elections at the weekend.
They believe NPP’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahammudu Bawumia has proven to be a good leader and servant. The defectors claim there has not been any tangible development in the 12 year dominance of the NDC in the area and think the situation will be worse if they continue to take goodies from the NDC only to be sidelined after elections.
Zakaria Rufai noted that apart from creating the district and providing the road and electricity the people have not benefitted from any development the past 12 years and urged them to choose between a “better Northerner and brother” ( Bawumia and John Mahama).
Dr. Moussa Jabir Kebir, the vice chairman of the Council of Elders urged the constituents to take advantage of the FSHS and rise to the challenge to develop their areas.
He said Ghanaians have benefitted from NPP’s Agenda 111, and the Frees SHS policy and tasked them to vote for the NPP and choose a new MP.
He encouraged them to work hard and remain loyal to the NPP cause, having joined the NPP voluntarily.
Madam Beatrice Serwaa Derchie, a member of the Council of Elders asked the constituents to vote for the NPP and bring Dr. Bawumia to office to effect changes and improve their lot adding that voting for the NDC would be a mistake.
Members of the Council of Elders at the historic meeting with the opinion leaders were Mrs. Rosemond Appiah-Menka ( chairperson), Nana Adu Gyamfi, Hon. Kofi Frimpong (former Kwabre East MP), Mfr. Yaw Asuo, (former Kwabre North constituency chairman) Beatrice Serwaa Derchie (former Ejisu MCE), Mrs. Elizabeth Agyemang (former Oforikrom MP), and Victor Owusu Jnr (secretary).
Source: www.kumasimail.com/ Barimaba Atuahene
