Odododiodio seat: Adjei Sowah has Tackie Komme's seat in sight

With the election of Mohammed Adjei Sowah as the New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for Odododiodio Constituency last Sunday for the 2008 general elections, the intrigues of politics peculiar to the constituency have began.

He won by 75 votes, followed by Nii Bi Ayibontey, the former MP for Odododiodio with 35, while Alhaji W Quartey got 6 votes.

In spite of the overwhelming endorsement of Adjei Sowah by the NPP constituency delegates, Nii Tackie Komme, of the opposition National Democratic Congress and incumbent MP for Odododiodio, says the NPP candidate will be no match for him in 2008 polls. His confidence stems from the fact that Adjei Sowah is reportedly not an indigene of the constituency.

According to Tackie Komme, the "indigene" factor plays a key role in deciding who becomes an MP for Odododiodio and he wondered why the NPP parliamentary candidate failed to contest in Teshie, his paternal home. "People know what I have done, the constituency is safe for the NDC, I am taking the seat again," he predicted.

In a sharp reaction, Adjei Sowah, a former NPP secretary for Odododiodio, in an interview with The Statesman described his opponent's outbursts as "cheap political talk." He said he was born and bred in the constituency and has lived with his family in the area throughout his life.

The NPP parliamentary candidate explained that technically he hails from Odododiodio, as per the country's constitution, adding: "I won't allow this issue to occupy my time."

Adjei Sowah, 36, is a Development Worker and runs Gamashie Centre for Education and Environmental Development, a non-governmental organisation in the area.

He dismissed the NDC MP's playing up the indigene factor, explaining that Akans make up about 75% of the population in Odododiodio, and urged Nii Tackie Komme to desist from playing the ethnic card in the constituency. Adjei Sowah noted that politics has changed and that what the people need are job opportunities, development projects and education, among others.

Records indicate that no MP for Odododiodio has served two consecutive terms, a trend which Adjei Sowah predicts the NDC MP would not be an exception to in the 2008 general election.