Obiri Francis goes independent

Lawyer Obiri Francis, the younger brother of the Minister of State at the Interior, Nana Obiri Boahen, has once again declared to contest as an Independent Parliamentary Candidate in the Sunyani West Constituency, after losing the 2004 parliamentary election to the incumbent, Kwadwo Adjei Darko.

The 32-year old Sunyani-based Legal Practitioner expressed confidence that having contested during the 2004 elections as an Independent Candidate, he has become more familiar with the electorate and knows their problems more than any other candidate.

But this time, he would be battling with the famous Regional Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, who is contesting on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), with the NDC yet to elect a candidate to contest in this year's December general elections.

He acknowledged the fact that based on the Regional Minister's political track record and experience, Hon. Baffour Awuah was a popular and accomplished politician in the constituency and the Region as a whole, but stated that he could beat the minister, come the general elections in December.

In an Interview with The Chronicle, Francis Obiri noted that since Hon. Adjei Darko was no more contesting the seat, the constituents looked up to him as the next person to succeed the incumbent MP.

According to Mr. Obiri, he would address problems of the youth who are in the majority, and being a lawyer, he would contribute effectively in parliamentary debates.

He noted that the people of Odomasi, where he comes from, and Fiapre where he resided for 10years, were of the view that the parliamentary seat should now go to him, as it was now their turn to also get a candidate to represent them in Parliament. The parliamentary seat of the area has been held by a native of Nsoatre from 1992 to1996 and Chiraa from 1997 to 2008.

Francis Obiri disclosed that he was being persuaded to contest the Sunyani-West Parliamentary by opinion leaders in Odomasi, Fiapre, Chiraa, Nsoatre and Domasua.