Aftermath of Tano-North parliamentary primaryOsafo Maafo rescues Debrah

A high-powered delegation led by Mr. Yaw Osafo Marfo has gone to the rescue of the Minister for Agriculture, Ernest Akubour Debrah, who happens to be the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano-North constituency, following the rancour that erupted after the area's parliamentary primary.

The constituents had vowed to vote against Mr. Debrah in the general election, after he defeated Madam Freda Akosua Prempeh in the primary, through what they described as foul electioneering process, by a three-vote margin.

They complained that the incumbent MP does not deserve to represent the constituency again, for the reason that he had not been visiting the constituency and attending Assembly meetings. According to them, this attitude of the incumbent MP demonstrated that Tano-North is inadequately represented in Parliament, stressing that it was time for him to stand aside, for another person to replace him.

The Constituents poured their anger out against Hon. Debrah after the primary, when they booed at him, whiles others attempted to attack him, but luckily for the MP, he was able to escape unhurt. This sad episode has since been a headache for the Constituency and Regional as well as National Executives, who have been trying their best to restore calm and order among the aggrieved people in the area.

Mr. Yaw Osafo Marfo was accompanied by Mr. Kennedy Agyapong, Boakye Agyarko, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, the Regional Chairman, Kwasi Adugyan and the defeated candidate Freda Akosua Prempeh. They visited the Chiefs and people of the Constituency at Dua-yaw Nkwanta to address the situation, so that the NPP can retain the seat and also win the Presidential elections massively come December 2008.

At the said meeting, the Chiefs and people raised their concerns, accusing the MP for not attending Assembly meetings and his failure to visit the Constituency after promising to represent their interest in Parliament.

They accused both the Constituency and Regional Executives for unfair and undemocratic organisation of the primary, saying that the whole process was being manipulated to favour the incumbent MP, which can be considered as an imposition of a candidate over them, and also an infringement of their fundamental human rights.

The Osafo Marfo-led delegation responded by appealing to the chiefs and people of the Constituency to forgive the party executives for whatever wrong or mistake that had happened during and after the primary. He appealed to them to burry their differences and rally behind the elected candidate to retain power.

The delegation used the opportunity to address various issues that troubles the Constituents and discussed how to marshal forces to win the elections.

The Chronicle gathered that supporters of Madam Freda Prempeh, after the meeting were against the peace initiative, insisting that the National President of the Women Supporters Union of Ghana (WASUGA), should contest as an Independent Parliamentary candidate. However, others within the same camp were convinced and satisfied with the approach of Osafo Marfo and his delegation.

Sources close to Madam Freda Prempeh indicated that in spite of the intensive pressure being brought to bear on her, the defeated Aspirant has stood her grounds not to go Independent and to show her loyalty to the NPP.

Freda Prempeh, who is a member of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Research Team of the NPP, has promised to support the incumbent MP, Ernest Debrah, to retain the seat and also increase the number of Parliamentary seats of the NPP in the Brong-Ahafo region.