Okudzeto Quits Politics

Raymond Okudzeto DUMEGA RAYMOND Okudzeto, a prominent citizen of the Anlo Traditional Area in the Volta region and a leading member of the National Patriotic Party (NPP), who really oiled the financial wheels of the Volta regional branch of the party, has finally bowed out of active partisan politics.

His decision to quit politics had indeed sent shock waves through the Volta regional branch of the party with some leading party members in the region expressing misgivings about the respected politician's  actions. They indicated that without him, it would be very difficult to sustain the little gains the party had made in the last elections in the midst of the problems it encountered.

Mr. Okudzeto, who was also the Campaign and Operations Director in the Volta region for Nana Akufo-Addo, the NPP presidential candidate in the last election, broke the news to a large audience that had gathered at the Ho Polytechnic auditorium in the Volta region last Friday to celebrate the anniversary of an organization founded by him three years ago, known as Volta Foundation.

The foundation is a non-profit-making one seeking to facilitate the socio-economic growth of the region and has been initiating projects in the region.

Some of the guests who were at the ceremony, including paramount chiefs and other prominent citizens were initially shocked at the news but later applauded his decision and wished him well.

Later in an interview with DAILY GUIDE, Raymond Okudzeto made it clear that his decision was final, stressing: “I will never join any political party again as long as I live.”

Asked what prompted the decision, the statesman said it was not because his party was defeated but rather he had realized that he could serve his region and for that matter Ghana better by concentrating on his benevolent works.

Raymond Okudzeto gained prominence a few years ago when he and some concerned chiefs, elders and citizens of the Anlo traditional area got embroiled in a bitter chieftaincy affair to resolve the problem of getting the rightful person for the traditional stool.

His fight incurred the wrath of a number of elements in his party in the region, and some people from the traditional area for which he suffered greatly for the stand he took.

Asked about the challenges and persecutions he suffered from his regional party members, traditional clans and kinsmen, Okudzeto said that he had done nothing wrong and stressed that as a citizen and statesman, he had a mission to fulfill, and that was to ensure that the right things were done  to foster unity and promote development in the area.

Some prominent citizens from the Volta region who wished to remain anonymous expressed satisfaction over the news. One very prominent chief said he was worried about the elder statesman's continuous involvement in partisan politics, especially when he was nearly lynched by some rowdy youth at both the Tongu and Anlo constituencies in the Volta region, during the December 2008 elections.

Most of the concerned citizens were of the view that with the vast knowledge and close relationships he has with numerous corporations across the globe, and the numerous partnerships he formed with entrepreneurs from the Far East to develop big infrastructure projects, the region would definitely benefit immensely.

The paper learned that people from the region with entrepreneurial skills had been trooping to the offices of the President of the Volta Foundation for the impartation of knowledge in doing big business in the Volta region.

A Daily Guide Report