Awutu Bawjiase, one of the largest market centres in the Central Region is fast becoming a political declarations centre where the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are trading accusations and counter-accusations.

Barely a week after the Founder and Patron of the DFP, Dr. Obed Yao Asamoah, had spelt doom for the NDC, the latter has tried to reverse the curse, and has rather declared the one-time party chairman persona non grata in Bawjiase and tagged him as a non-performer who has lost his senses.

Those remarks were made by various speakers at Awutu Bawjiase at the weekend when the NDC held a primary to elect its parliamentary candidate for the Awutu-Senya Constituency as part of the party's preparations towards the 2008 general elections.

"Ghanaians, and for that matter supporters of the NDC, should not listen to that old man that has become good for nothing”, said one of the speakers.

“What does Dr. Obed Asamoah have to offer the good people of Ghana? What positive contributions did he give when he was the chairman of the NDC”, another quizzed.

Speaker after speaker could not hide their anger over what some described as "animal talk" from Dr. Asamoah. "No sensible Ghanaian with sound mind will make such a useless statement," one of them paraphrased for all of them.

Addressing the 241 delegates that were drawn from all the polling stations in the Awutu-Senya Constituency, the National Vice Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Saed Sinare, observed that, the signs are clearly written on the wall that, the National Democratic Congress will win the 2008 parliamentary and presidential elections hands down.

He encouraged supporters of the party to contribute their quota towards the victory.

The National Women's Organizer of the NDC, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe, accused the NPP administration of inefficiency and lack of fellow feeling for the plight of the Ghanaian citizen. She called on supporters of NDC in the constituency to work in unity to ensure the victory the party is yearning for in the 2008 elections.

A national executive member of the NDC and former Member of Parliament for Awutu-Senya Constituency, Mrs. Hannah Tetteh Kpodah, who delivered an address on behalf of the flag bearer of the NDC for the 2008 elections, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, called for post-election unity to strengthen the party to enhance its chances of winning both the parliamentary and presidential elections in the constituency.

Touching on Dr. Obed Asamoah's statement, Mrs. Kpodah noted, "DFP is a desperate party, which does not even think of winning elections, but is bent on destroying the hard won reputation of a serious-minded party such as the NDC."

When he was the chairman, did he ever think of the constituency, she wondered and continued, we will not allow him to use Awutu-Senya as a breeding ground for his desperate party. He cannot visit this constituency again, she said.

In the elections, Mr. Daniel Nana Larbi, became the obvious choice as he collected 126 out of the 241 votes cast. Other contestants, Babalamin Abu Sadat and Mr. Nuhu Adam got 66 and 46 votes respectively, and there were two rejected ballot papers.


Source: The Independent