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20.03.2012 Feature Article

Atta Mills Weakens National Democratic Congress Support In OSU and Neighboring Cities

Atta Mills Weakens National Democratic Congress Support In OSU and Neighboring Cities
20.03.2012 LISTEN

A group of GA's (tribe) was placed in a large black pot with a security guard outside the pot. A group from another tribe was placed in a second pot, but without a security guard. When asked the reason why the GA's had a security guard the explanation was; the GA's brought your brother down-syndrome, they don't need a guard, because anyone who attempts to climb out of the pot will be pulled back down and they all will perish. The other tribesmen, that will volunteer, so that one can stand on each other's back to climb out of the big pot and only a few will perish. The survivors will carry on with the tribe's lineage. This is the story of OSU(tribe) National Democratic Congress (NDC). David Lamptey is the former NDC member of parliament(MP) and Oko Dzanie, owner of NDK financial service (also an Atta mills appointee, on the board of the lands commission and head of Ghana Hockey). Dzanie now owns most of the buildings across from Accra sports stadium are pulling down the current MP and causing a big NDC division in OSU.

On the 6th of March, Honorable Nii Amarh Ashitey was at the Independence day parade and also the airport to see the president off. Shortly after that, the sudden news broke on the news media that he has been terminated from the regional minister position. This was no knew news to most because everyone who lives in OSU knows that this was the agenda of David Lamptey and others. This is after their sponsored candidates in the NDC primaries failed to defeat Hon Nii Amarh Ashitey.

Nii Amarh Ashitey is the former Mayor of Tema and for several years during the Rawlings administration. He has been under the radar for no reason in his position as the greater Accra Regional minister. Nii Amarh Ashitey, a very modest and gentleman never moved into the Mayor residence in Tema. He also never moved into the Minister residence at Ridge in order to save the country money. He never boast or demonstrate any signs of luxury; he was a very simple man. He is a man who has not been linked to any scandal and does not go around throwing money to people in the streets like David Lamptey. It is obvious that Atta Mills has really miss fired.

Nii Amarh Ashitey happens to be a royal to the Lenshie Stool, in Teshie. His role in the NDC helped to boost the party with votes in Teshie. Also, as the Mayor of Tema, Nii Amarh Ashitey had good relations with the Kings, the people of Tema Manhean Ashiaman and a few other communities along the coast. Furthermore, Nii Amarh Ashitey is married to a woman who hails from Ada; hence the influence amongst the Adangme.

Again in his hometown OSU, Nii Amarh Ashitey is a nephew of Harry Sawyer (NDC) and Professor Sai (NPP). His parental family links Nii Amarh Ashitey to Shia wulu in OSU Mowule/tunmai castle area then to Ashante Blohum and the Briandt/Awuku family (garden)this connects him to almost all the quarters of OSU. He was the first NDC MP to sweep votes for the NDC and reclaimed the seat from the NPP back to NDC. He even won the highly contested polling station at St Barnabas next door to the castle.

So the question is; why will Atta Mills give such a stellar minister, who had just won the primaries, be given the nod to stand for a second term? Why will Atta Mills fire Nii Amarh Ashitey when he has only a few months to complete his 4 years as the only Regional Minister with no deputy and also Member of Parliament?

The untold story is that David Lamptey; former NDC MP in OSU has tried all ways to discredit Nii Amarh Ashitey. He is going around giving money away to NDC members to go against Honorable Ashitey and he has given motor bikes and cars to NDC boys in OSU just to discredit Nii Amarh Ashitey who will not bribe people. David Lamptey even sponsored a candidate leeford Quarshie against Amarh Ashitey in the primaries but his candidate lost. Meanwhile, when David Lamptey once contested for the NDC seat as a defected NPP member then a broke or poor man the Honorable Nii amarh Ashitey even sponsored and stood by David Lamptey.

Another group dividing the OSU NDC is the hockey fraternity. These are friends of Atta Mills who played hockey with him years ago on the veteran's team. This group is led by Oko Dzanie (NDK). They even sponsored Frank Awuku of the Bank of Ghana hockey team, who has never been known or seen in Osu NDC circle or politics. Until, recently to contest NII Amarh Ashitey at the OSU primaries but he lost.

Mr. President, are you aware of all these stories which are happening right under your nose in OSU Christiansburg where you live or not? I believe if OSU happens to be Nandom or Tamale, David Lamptey will be one with the man who is Minister for a city he claims he loves so much. He will help the Minister to develop the city that we all love and not divide it. As a father of all that you preach, you should invite all those stakeholders to unite behind Nii Amarh Ashitey; if you want to retain the seat. Nii Amarh Ashitey is one of the few educated GA's that the NDC has available and it's about time that all NDC members unite behind the MP. It is not a time to preach hatred and divide.

For GA's it's about time to unite because our language is even eroding away in Accra. “A word to the wise is enough.”

Nii Nortey Osu

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