Disqualified Deputy Western Regional Minister Emelia Arthur broke her silence on Thursday over recent developments in the Shama Constituency of the NDC. She said her decision regarding the 2012 parliamentary elections would be announced in the next few weeks. She was disqualified by national executives from contesting against the incumbent MP Hon. Gabriel Kodwo Esssilfie, after constituency executives questioned her membership and loyalty to the NDC. Speaking at a public gathering at Ohiamadwen, a small farming community in the Shama District, the former Shama DCE, and a two-time parliamentary candidate of the National Reform Party (2000 and 2004), said she would not challenge the decision by the NDC’s national leadership to disqualify her and will not contest on the party’s ticket any longer. She also asked her supporters to accept the decision, and continue to rally behind her as she remains committed to an active role in politics. “Though the candidates vetting did not take place, NDC has now scheduled the suspended Shama primaries for Saturday. The incumbent MP will stand unopposed, and I wish to congratulate him for his de facto nomination as the NDC candidate. I do not intend to take any steps to request a review of national leadership’s decision. I accept the authority of the National Executive in this matter. I am thus no longer a contender for the NDC Shama ticket. I also ask all my supporters to accept this decision in good faith, remain calm and to ensure the success of Saturday’s primaries and the general elections”. Although there have been calls on her to go independent, she did not make mention of that except to say that her decision will be known in a few weeks time after the necessary consultations. “I assure my supporters that their support has not been in vain. Our struggle continues. We have a lot of work to do to achieve the transformation that Shama needs and deserves. I remain committed to an active role in Shama and national politics. I will announce my intentions regarding the 2012 Parliamentary elections at a similar even in a few weeks time after I have though things through with family, friends and colleagues. Until then, I will make no further public comment” she noted. Some residents of Shama and members of the party who spoke to Maxx News say they will support whatever decision the former DCE takes. Whilst the constituency executives have insisted that Madam Emelia Arthur is not an active card-bearing member of the party, and thus, ineligible to contest, some polling station executives, have been rooting for her candidature maintaining that she is a loyal member of the NDC, who pays her dues accurately, contributes to the constituency’s development and better placed to retain the seat for the party. Her supporters, who are mostly polling station executives at the grassroots, have warned that the NDC is likely to lose the seat to the opposition NPP since the incumbent MP’s popularity has waned. Some disgruntled party members have thus vowed to vote “skirt and blouse” in the 2012 elections. Emelia Arthur’s decision not to contest on the ticket of Goosie Tanoh’s National Reform Party in 2008, is said to have given the seat to the NDC, as they amassed more votes, and yet only managed to beat the NPP’s candidate with a little over 800 votes.