Bismark Bebli
25 August 2008
REPORTS GATHERED by this paper from the North-Dayi Constituency in the Volta region indicate that the electorates are in a dilemma over who to vote for in the upcoming general elections, as far as the Parliamentary candidate for the area is concerned.
According to the information, some electorates were disappointed with the performance of the sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Ms. Akua Dansoa and have accused her of taking them for a ride.
Others indicated that though the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has not been their choice, they were torn between voting for its candidate, Mr. Ken Anku and the incumbent MP, Ms. Akua Dansoa.
In a random sampling conducted by this paper last week, from the constituency, it was clear that Mr. Ken Anku, who was elected by the NPP a couple of months ago, has made some inroads and was set to cause an upset in the 2008 general elections. At Tsrukpe, the hometown of the sitting MP, residents accredited the NPP candidate for rehabilitating deplorable roads in the area while the MP they claimed has looked on unconcerned for the past years.
According to them, the developments being undertaken by Mr. Anku, even though he has not been voted to Parliament yet, shows that he has the desire to develop the area and that a vote for him in the upcoming elections would not be a waste.
They averred that when Mr. Anku, who has displayed passion for development is given the mandate, their votes would be rewarded with progress and development.
To some, the NDC has taken them for granted for sometime now and have also kept them in the dark concerning the affairs of the party in the constituency, irrespective of the fact that they love NDC.
At Gbotoku, where Mr. Anku hails from, the residents were also sharply divided on who to vote for, just like the people of Tsrukpe had also indicated in a chat with this paper.
Some noted that they have not listened to the campaign plans of the two to make their informed choices and said until they listen to them, they can not decide on whom to vote for in the upcoming elections.
At Vakpo, Tsrukpe, Gbotoku and Kpando where this reporter visited, there were posters of Mr. Anku while that of the NDC candidate, Ms. Akua Dansoa was absent in the constituency. At Gbotoku junction, taxi drivers plying the road told this paper that they would vote skirt and blouse in the upcoming elections. But others said despite the short comings of the incumbent MP, their vote is for the NDC.
Clearly, this paper can report that the upcoming general elections at the North-Dayi Constituency might go down to the wire.
An opinion poll conducted by this reporter in the constituency, especially the hometowns of the two candidates, indicates that though the constituents are pro-NDC, they are contemplating a change in this year's election as far as the MP is concerned.
Whilst some residents credit Ken for helping in the rehabilitation of some deplorable roads in the constituency, others subjected the MP for poor performance with the allegations that she rarely organizes programmes for them to know the plans of the party.
Mr. Wiliam Wilberfore, a resident at Tsrukpe, said "Ken Anku is becoming more popular but we are for the NDC. In addition, we have seen that the elections in the area are becoming one way," he said.
Mr. Mathias Klutse of Gbotoku, said even though under the NDC, the hardship and the suffering was less as compared to the NPP administration, he and his family are contemplating voting for NPP parliamentary candidate and vote for NDC Presidential candidate. Asked who he thinks is more popular in the constituency, Mr. Klutse said Ms. Akua Dansoa is popular in the constituency, but on current comparism, the NPP candidate is more popular than the NPP candidate. Mr. Ati Kofi, a resident at Vakpo, said the time has come for the NPP to take up Ms. Dansoa's position in Parliament. According to him, one of the reasons why he joined the NPP was that he has seen Mr. Anku as someone who has the interest of the area at heart and listens to them when the need arises.
Mr. George Avetu on his part disagreed with the attacks on the MP, saying that the vindictive nature of the NPP administration seems to have affected the performance of the MP. "I am NDC and I will still vote for the NDC. Akua Dansoa has done her best and I am sure that when the NDC wins the election, she will do better," he said.
At Kpando, the stories from Vakpo, Tsrukpe and Gbotoku were same. Voters also indicated that the two candidates have so far not presented their programmes for them to make any judgement.
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