Bismark Bebli
27 March 2008
REPORTS AVAILABLE to this paper indicate that all is not well for Hon. Esther Obeng Dapaah, the Minister of Lands and Forestry and the Member of Parliament for Abirim North constituency, of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as she opts for her second return to parliament.
According to our information, the minister's comment to the effect that she has the blessings and endorsement as the sole candidate for the constituency for the 2008 general elections from the national chairman, Mr. Peter Mac Manu, thereby preventing others from contesting against her in the upcoming primary, has incurred the wrath and indignation of the polling station chairmen.
With the polling station chairmen, including the executives of the constituency at the throat of the national chairman, they have equally accused the constituency chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Amoako of creating unbridled problems for the NPP and that if immediate steps are not taken to avert the situation, the party faces the risk of losing the seat to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
To this end, out of 68 polling station chairmen, 53 have passed a resolution and demanded the resignation of Mr. Amoako, to pave way for the progress of the party. They have also invited him to face the assembly members for his endorsement as the District Chief Executive for the Abirim Constituency, as announced by the President.
In an eleven point resolution signed by the chairmen, they accused the chairman of gross incompetence, poor human relationship, strong antagonist attitude towards the chairmen and party members, total disrespect for party faithfuls and executives and also accused him of running a one man show in the constituency.
According to the party kingmakers, they were not happy with latest developments of the party in the constituency, because of "his continued keeping of party property including NADMO items and all the items the Presidential aspirants gave to the party during the flagbearership primaries and how he has completely neglected the constituency," they said.
Expressing concern over how the chairman had 'miraculously' turned into a contractor of which the proceeds were expected to benefit party members, but goes into his pocket. They alleged that for the past years, the constituency chairman in connivance with the MP, had never organized meetings with the party members to discuss the future of the party, but they have consistently tried to stampede all moves towards calling for meetings.
Prior to this resolution, the constituency first vice chairman, Mr. Charles Anim Baffour, a.k.a 'Apollo' and others recounted to sections of the media how furious and peeved they were when the chairman connived with the MP to prevent other qualified people from contesting the primary.
According to the chairmen, the Minister told them at a meeting that she had been assured by the national chairman of the NPP that as the only female MP from the Eastern Region, the leadership of the party had decided to acclaim her as an unopposed candidate.
Mr. Baffuor said as a result of the Minister's comment, which they challenged at the meeting, is what has resulted in potential aspirants staying away from picking nomination forms, so as not to be seen to challenge the orders of the national chairman.
"All that we are saying here today is that the leadership of the party should come out to resolve the problem. We have seen the disenchantment of our party members and the feeling of some threatening to vote skirt and blouse if we allow this undemocratic tendency to prevail," said one of the peeved chairmen.
At the press conference which was attended by Ms Ivy Dukuwaa, the constituency women organizer, Daniel Opoku, polling station chairman, Mr. Yaw Acheampong, constituency organizer, Mr. S.D, former organizer and a host of others, Mr. Anim Baffour declared that trouble awaits the NPP if the constituency chairman, who was appointed as the DCE refuses to hand over power, but kowtow to the directions of the Minister to hold on to power until he gets approval from the district.
"If really the NPP wants us to retain this seat, they must listen to us. We are always on the ground and we listen to our party members. They have been telling us how our chairman has made the party unpopular and how the minister has also neglected them. We must take the bull by the horns and address the issues by allowing free and fair contest and allow other interested candidates to pick nomination forms to contest.'
All the executives at the press conference shared their views on the party, and the signals picked from all of them proved that the party is actually in turmoil.
Ms. Ivy Dukuwaa accused the Minister of sidelining her in any affirmative action in the constituency. "As the constituency women organizer, the MP never involved me in any activity in the area. She has sidelined and neglected me in any activity that she organizes in the constituency. I have complained to her but to no avail." She said.
The party executives, who are fuming with rage over the actions of both the constituency chairman and that of the Minister, recounted how the chairman in connivance with the Minister handpicked the delegates for the December congress which saw the election of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the Presidential candidate for the party.
An investigation conducted by this paper also indicated that the party members have no party ID cards and have not even been paying dues as required by the party's constitution. The reason adduced by this paper was the inability of the constituency to have an office to operate.
The Minister, Hon. Daapah, however, refused to grant interview to this paper and requested that this reporter should book an appointment with her secretary at the Ministries before she could talk.
When this reporter wanted to find out when it would be possible to meet her, she hanged up the phone.
Meanwhile attempts to reach the chairman proved futile as his cell phones rings without response.
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