allAfrica.com: Ghana: Tescon Calls for Resignation of Amansie East MP (Page 1 of 2)

MEMBERS OF TESCON, from the various tertiary institutions and natives of Bekwai constituency have called on the national executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to prevail upon the sitting Member of Parliament, Mr. Ignatius Kofi Adusei Poku to resign in the interest of the party.

The students, drawn from the University of Ghana, Legon, University of Development Studies, University of Cape Coast and the KNUST, to the launching of the campaign of Mr. Joseph Osei-Owusu for the 2008 parliamentary elections on the ticket of the NPP, said the sitting MP was unpopular and would affect the chances of the party if allowed to represent the NPP at the 2008 elections.

Their call comes from the conviction that Mr. Osei-Wusu was more marketable and popular, and best represents the interest of the constituents than the sitting MP.

The spokespersons for the group include Messrs. Osei Poku Asiri, Eugene Osei Poku and Emmanuel Donkor.

They said that a survey conducted by TESCON in the constituency, indicated that the MP should be made to step down in order to consolidate the fortunes of the party and the chances of the Presidential candidate. According to them, nobody is lobbying for developments to come to the area, as a result of which the party has denied the constituents of basic facilities and infrastructure, citing the delay in the construction of a district Hospital for the area which had made the people disillusioned.

The concerned students also said the enthusiasm in voting had dwindled and that is evidenced in the results of the 2000 and 2004 elections, which indicated that NPP votes had decreased by 2004. "If caution is not taken, the sitting MP would loss miserably at the expense of the fortunes of the party", they noted. They further advised the hierarchy of the party to take a second look at the candidature of Poku Adusei.

They said a third time bid by the MP, who they claimed was over pampered by President Kufuor, would go a long way to worsen the situation for the party since constituents had decided to vote for an Independent candidate or any of the opposition parties if he should seek re-election.

Outlining his vision for the constituency, during the launch of his campaign last Saturday, Osei-Owusu who is also the Chief Executive Officer of DVLA, expressed concern about the fallen standards of education and promised to work to better the situation, through developmental schemes to upgrade teaching skills of teachers in the area.

His other priority areas were mentioned as agriculture, under which loans would be secured for farmers and medium and small scale operators to expand their ventures.

The aspirant intends to establish a Processing Plant to take care of farm products by the farmers in the area to avoid post harvest losses.

Besides, Osei-Owusu said he would also give priority to the strengthening of the party's support base in the constituency by creating job opportunities for the youth in the area, agriculture and creation of investment avenues and employment opportunities.

Osei Owusu, 46, said with the release of about GH¢400,000 as the District Assembly Common Fund for the district every year, much more could be done in terms of development than what was pertaining currently.

The aspirant, who is a lawyer by profession has assured the costituents that he would inject new ideas in the body politic of the party at the constituency level.

He said by his decision to contest the seat, he wanted to reciprocate what society had given him by way of his education in the locality.

Osei-Owusu said since a good name is better than riches, he would rather want to serve and leave his mark in the community that contributed in moulding his life.

According to him, he had over the years worked very hard to attain this level of aspiration to lead his people in government.

He said his quest is a function of the desire of the youth and constituents to see change in the political landscape in the constituency. He said after two terms, the sitting MP had been allowed enough time to effect development and that it was time he came to continue with the development process, especially at a time the youth are calling for a more positive changes.

The DVLA boss reiterated that he would use his "connections" as a member of the inner circle of the party to ensure that the constituency gets its fair share of the national cake. "Politics is about networking and I would capitalize on my connections to bring about the needed development" he said.

The launching was attended by a large crowd of people including representatives of all 88 communities in the constituency, as well as majority of the 132 polling station chairmen who form the Electoral College, and friends and relations from far and near.

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