NPP Member Goes Independent

Mr Alexander Osei Tutu, a paid-up member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the Asante Akim North Constituency has resigned from the party with immediate effect and decided to contest as independent candidate.

Mr Osei Tutu, a 33-year-old private legal practitioner, who spoke to the Daily Graphic in Kumasi, said after the recent NPP primaries in the constituency many people had lost faith in the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu.

He said some youth had decided not to vote for the NPP and the slogan gaining popularity in the constituency was “skirt and blouse”.

He alleged that there was lack of transparency in the way the primary was conducted and stressed that the constituency chairman moved the venue of the primary to Agogo, which was the home town of Mr Baah-Wiredu, in spite of numerous protests.

Mr Osei Tutu, who is also a lecturer at the University of Education, Kumasi Campus, noted that the NDC government started almost all the development projects in Asante Akim.

He mentioned the Konongo Sports Stadium in particular, Konongo-Odumasi District Hospital, Konongo-Agogo road and the Asante-Akim Water Project among others.

With regard to development projects, he said nothing had been done under the administration of the NPP government and especially under Mr Baah-Wiredu's tenure of office as MP.

Mr Osei Tutu said the Konongo Mines, which used to be a major mining centre in the country, had been abandoned for 12 years.

He added that the mines, which was creating employment for a large number of people including the youth, had not been reactivated.

Story by Nana Yaw Barimah