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23.11.2007 Politics

I Won’t Quit Politics -JH Mensah

By Daily Guide
I Wont Quit Politics -JH Mensah
23.11.2007 LISTEN

THOSE WHO think Hon. J.H. Mensah will quit active politics with President J.A. Kufuor in 2009 in view of his long service to the nation, may have got it all wrong.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE in Kumasi recently, Hon. Mensah intimated that those who were calling for his exit were singing the wrong tune, stressing that he had been trained to be a politician and that he was not ready to abandon his political career for any other job. However, he did not disclose whether or not he was going to contest the Sunyani East parliamentary seat in the 2008 elections.

A number of people, including Nana Obiri Boahen, Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior and Kwame Twumasi Awuah, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive are lining up to battle for the seat.

"Politics has become part and parcel of my life. Besides, politics is what I know to do best in this world so I will not leave politics for any other job," he stated jokingly.

"What job should I leave politics for?” he asked rhetorically, amidst laughter.

Hon. Mensah contended that despite his age, he still had the energy and political experience needed to carry the nation forward, stressing, "I am not quitting politics today or tomorrow".

Commenting on Kwabena Adjei, otherwise known as Bambata, one of the disgruntled members who left the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and claimed to have formed a new party, J.H. Mensah contended that the ruling party could do without him.

It would be recalled that Mr. Adjei recently announced his departure from the NPP to form his own political party, the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD). Bambata's exit received wide reportage in both the electronic and print media.

Considering that the 2008 general elections was fast approaching, some political analysts even went to the extent of predicting doom for the ruling party, especially in the Ashanti Region, due to Adjei's exit.

Hon. Mensah denied that his departure from the party could have adverse effects on the fortunes of the NPP during the upcoming general elections.

According to him, NPP was formed on democratic principles and so was capable of retaining political power without Bambata.

He maintained that Bambata had not played any meaningful role in the party in the past “so nobody should wail about his departure,” adding that “the party is too strong to crumble due to the exit of a single member.

"What are his significant contributions to the party?" he asked, stressing that Bambata's exit from the party could neither shake nor crumble the elephant family.

"What is the news in Bambata's exit from the party?" he quizzed, advising that the media should report about issues that would have positive impact on the country's developmental agenda.

The former Senior Minister, who is chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), urged supporters of the party to put Bambata's issue aside and rather remain steadfast and rally behind the party to retain power in the 2008 general elections.

He allayed also fears that the party would disintegrate after its December 22 congress at the University of Ghana, Legon, assuring supporters that NPP would remain united after the congress.

Hon. Mensah noted that those who thought the party would break up after its congress would laugh on the wrong side of their mouths as nothing would disturb the peace in the party.

From Fred J. A. Ibrahim Jnr., Kumasi

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