Confusion in Ashaiman NPP

Confusion is brewing in the Ashaiman constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as supporters of Mr. K.K. Teye Member of Parliament (MP) for the area and those of Mr. Eric Kwatia, constituency secretary, wrangle over Kwatia's decision to contest the constituency primaries. Our investigations have revealed that Mr.Kwatia's decision is posing a threat to the chances of the MP seeking a second term.

Supporters of Mr. Teye are allegedly issuing threats to Mr. Kwatia “to instill the fear of God in him” to rescind his decision to contest.

But Kwatia, who is also deputy Greater Accra regional secretary and special advisor to the Minister of Regional Integration and NEPAD, Mr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, is not budging. His supporters were said to have vowed to ensure that he contested the MP who they believe has failed them.

Last Saturday when the Adenta branch of the party held its primaries, a section of the youth who claimed to be supporters of Kwatia were seen chanting 'war songs' saying: “No Kwatia, No MP in Ashaiman”, in the presence of Mr. Lord Commey, national organizer of the party.

In an interview, Mr. Twum- Barima Jnr. spokesman for the group, said Mr. Teye had no compassion for the youth stressing that he had disappointed them. He, however, praised Mr. Kwatia for always being there for them to attend to their needs.

Meanwhile, the constituency chairman, Alhaji Hamidu Hussein, has denied that there is confusion in the party even though he admitted that majority of the executive members, including himself, had some sympathetic leaning towards the MP.

Alhaji Hussein said long before Kwatia declared his intention to contest, he held a meeting with leading members of the party, including Kwatia, and it was agreed that Mr. Teye should be given another term after which any other person could contest in the 2008 elections.

He explained that a little over a week later, the rumour mill started churning out information that Mr. Kwatia intended to contest the sitting MP and he called him to ascertain the truth. Kwatia denied the rumour.

The next day the constituency secretary went on Adom FM radio station in Tema to say that he would not contest, only to declare his true intention a week later.

“So how do you expect an executive, who has agreed to allow the sitting MP to run for a second term because of the gains made so far, turn around to throw his weight behind a member who has betrayed us?”

The constituency chairman pointed out that in spite of the nomination of Mr Kwatia, the MP would beat him at the primaries and go ahead to defeat Alfred Agbesi, the NDC candidate.