Volta MP roiled by Anku in North DayiAs Akua Dansua dumped by women organizers

Tension is mounting in the North-Dayi Constituency of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as some members of the party are divided over the resignation and defection of the Constituency Women Organiser of the NDC, Madam Juliet Simpi, and her predecessor, Madam Merry Abotsi, to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The duo have also levelled a number of allegations against the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Ms. Akua Sena Dansua.

Madam Abotsi, who is popularly known in the constituency as Baby Number 13, enumerated the negative practices within the NDC in the area, and said she could no longer be associated with the unhealthy practices in the party.

According to the NDC aggrieved woman, who spoke to The Chronicle, some of the practices that made her move out of the NDC, and into the waiting arms of the NPP, were the absence of transparency and accountability, as well as acts of intimidation among others.

Madam Abotsi pointed out that these practices had been with the party for a long time, but due to her love for the NDC, she tried to tolerate these negative developments, but was now fed up.

Madam Abotsi explained that what informed her decision to join the NPP was that she represented Ms. Dansua at a workshop, as a resource person on African Development Women Fund Project in Accra and after the programme, a huge sum of money was given to her to be given to the MP, with the intention of giving some of the money to support women in the constituency.

When she later asked the MP about the disbursement of the money, she gathered that she had allegedly shared the money amongst friends in the party, and never used it for its intended purpose.

Abotsi said that when she pressed, she was told in the face that she was only sent to attend a workshop, and should not demand how the money was used, and that she should shut up.

Madam Abotsi pointed out that at that stage, she took the decision to join the NPP, because she did not want to involve herself in such practices, and that the only way to clear her conscience, was to join a party that, to her, adhered to democratic principles and practices.

She dared Ms. Dansua to come out clearly and challenge her on the issues raised, since she was still having documents in relation to the issues.

According to Madam Abotsi, her exit would create problems for Ms. Dansua in her attempt to be retained in parliament, because a number of people who supported her (Madam Abotsi) would follow her to the NPP, to demonstrate to the NDC and the incumbent MP, that they could not take their commitment and love for the NDC for granted, since there were other suitable alternatives.

When contacted the MP for the area, Ms. Dansua, denied all the allegations, and described the attitudes of the two NDC Women Organisers, who defected to the NPP, as ungrateful.

According to the MP, they took the decision as a result of greed, as well as selfish interests, but said she was surprised about the conduct of the women, who the party had assisted in various ways to enable them work more effectively.

The MP pointed out that the two were more of liabilities than assets to the party, noting that their exit had no impact on the activities of the NDC in the area.

She said that she was grooming Madam Simpi to become a responsible, as well as active party member in the constituency that was why she (MP) made her the Organiser.

Ms. Dansua was however sure of victory, saying in spite of the defection of her former and current Women Organisers, nothing would prevent her from being retained in parliament.

However, the NPP Women's Organiser of the North-Dayi Constituency, Madam Grace Paemkah, noted that the defection of the two Women Organisers was a sign of victory for Mr. Anku and the NPP, as they would assist her with their vast experience, particularly during the campaign for the December polls, and said the development was also an indication of the attractiveness of the NPP in the area to the people, adding that her doors were open for more people to join.

There are signs of development in the town, with the current tarring of roads in the area, and construction that was going on had bolstered Ken Anku's chances, but he has to contend with Akua Dansua's 83 per cent margin of victory, a very tall order by any reckoning.

Mr. Anku was the Public Relations Officer to the Minister of Roads and Highways, while Ms. Akua Danua was the a Senior Features Editor of the Weekly Spectator, and former senior reporter with The Nigerian Tribune.