Eugene Antwi and his new vision for Subin, Kumasi

Nana Adjoa Ghartey , 11.11.2009
London
A failed NPP candidate for MP for the Subin constituency in Kumasi, Mr. Eugene Yaw Boakye Antwi said during his campaign that he wanted to establish a resource centre that will offer training for Subin constituents, especially the youth and women to equip them with employable skills and help them to source credit to enter into productive ventures when given the mandate to represent the constituency. So how come just 11 months after the election, this guy has not only been known to draw a pistol during an argument, but in addition to his sins and misdemeanours, deliberately and consistently attempts to destroy the career of Miss Georgette Djaba, a solicitor and fellow NPP member who is far away in London, minding her own business?

What does this failed NPP candidate hope to gain by destroying Ms Djaba's career? Why the rivalry and the bickering? The writer was shocked by Eugene's inexcusable comments recently on Asempa Radio and Fox FM Radio, Kumasi. Is this the vision that he has to support women and youth? The guy is spineless, picking on a defenceless woman, who despite whatever stigma and disability that Eugene alleges she has, has been serving the NPP UK and Ireland Branch faithfully since 1993. Ms Djaba has been attending meetings, building websites for the departed such as Baah Wiredu, Peter Ala Adjetey, R.R. Amponsah,. etc. You will find these at www.gonetoosoon.org

Eugene Antwi said during the primaries that Subin is the hub of business and major trading in Kumasi and when selected, he will make a case for increased investment in Subin to create more employment opportunities while ensuring the proper implementation of the New Patriotic Party administration's policies and initiatives. Yet he is busy trying to destoy the career of one of our very own?

When he launched his campaign in Kumasi in March 2008,, Eugene Antwi mentioned the $44 million Venture Capital Fund, the development of Small and Medium scale enterprises, the $50 million Micro Credit Scheme and the National Youth Employment Programme as initiatives that he harness to educate members in the constituency and help facilitate access to them to bring greater employment to Subin.He said as a banker and someone with a business background, he would use his expertise to help create more jobs and wealth for the benefit of the constituency in general.

Yet in the creation of wealth, this guy is rumoured to have chopped at least one billion cedis of election campaign funds. He was also supported financially by various members of the NPP UK Branch. As secretary, he left the London branch is great disarray with the list of members running over 1,000 including several dead, defected and even non-existent names and double names. What type of branch secretary is this? He left the person who took over as acting secretary, Matthew Kyeremeh with an impossible task of deciphering the list and trying to make sense of it.

His skills as a secretary lacked accountability and probity. As a so-called banker who has been alleged to have misappropriated campaign funds, his credibility is at stake.

He said during the primaries, "My priority is to encourage a pro- business, pro-enterprise constituency with the existing resources available to us.". His priority now seems to be in abusing and denigrating a woman, destroying her reputation and image just to glorify himself and put himself in the limelight. He does not have any credibility. He was not that well known and it was downright foolhardy to contest the Subin seat against a very formidable candidate, Hon. Isaac Osei. (Hon Osei is currently vying for the flagbearership of the NPP as an alternative candidate).

In the field of education, Eugene Antwi, who from 2005-2008 served as the Secretary of the United Kingdom and Ireland branch of the NPP pledged to ensure that Subin's schools and pupils benefit fully from the increased funding and higher standards within the framework of the FCUBE whilst strengthening links between schools and local businesses which will ultimately enhance economic development.

I ask, what has he done for Subin so far? He is all talk and no substance.He said he would make a case for the enforcement of a balance between parents and teachers in decision making within the school framework vis-à-vis the interests of local communities in preserving standards of schools for the future generation.

Recounting his contributions to the Subin constituency, Eugene Antwi said since 2004 he has among others donated bicycles, a computer and a printer, paid office rent arrears and advance and other substantial financial donations to support constituency operations.

"In my concern for the welfare of Subin I have paid National Health Insurance Scheme premiums for polling station chairpersons. These are my modest contributions which demonstrate my commitment, loyalty and true party credentials in the constituency" he said. Well, despite all his so called modest contributions, he lost. He needs specialist counselling to get over his loss and stop picking on women. That is my honest advice to him. He does not have the looks, the charisma and charm. I am appealing to all women within the constituency and any other constituency that he chooses to align himself to reject this failed candidate now and in the future. That will send a message to him.

"Articulating a new vision for the constituency, Eugene Antwi said Subin needs a candidate who will not only deliver but will also be an instrument of positive change driven by the spirit of enterprise, underpinned by conviction, confident in his beliefs and that his main purpose for being in politics is to make a real to public service in the constituency." [Statesman 31.03.08, Joe Lartey)

Eugene is rather, in my own candid opinion, a dark instrument of the devil in diguise.He is in politics just to chop the people's money. Stop that man, now. I urge all women to reject him. He does not respect women.

"He prayed for a level playing field and charged those with the protection of the selection process to strive to maintain the integrity of the party.

"We need to demonstrate that our party is open to all those who share our values of freedom, enterprise, responsibility, tolerance and love of country but have too often found our party unwelcoming," Eugene Antwi declared." (Statesman, 31.03.08)

I am truly and really glad that those in the selection process firmly and gladly rejected this man, who frankly needs to stay away from politics and find another career.

Nana Adjoa Ghartey is a freelance journalst.`

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