The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Essikado-Ketan Constituency in the Western Region, Hon. Joe Ghartey, says his support base within his constituency is as strong as ever and that he is set to re-seek election in the December elections on the ticket of the NPP without any opposition within. He has also reiterated his unflinching zeal to continue to seek the interest of his constituents to ensure they are better off for as long as he remains their representative in Parliament. In an excusive interview with Gye Nyame Concord over the weekend, Hon. Ghartey who doubles as the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General said he was still focused on executing his duties and responsibilities as Member of Parliament, assuring that he would prove his popularity in his area by winning the seat convincingly come December 7, this year. In a reaction to claims in sections of the media to the effect that he had lost touch with his constituents, he denied the allegation, maintaining that in spite of his tight work schedule both as an MP and a Minister; he has been working tirelessly to keep in touch with his people at the constituency. He noted that by virtue of his performance since 2005 when he was elected by the people of Essikado-Ketan to represent them, he is more than convincing to retain the seat come December this year when the people go to the polls to elect a new president and MPs. Readers will recall that, recently, there were media reports claiming that the people of Diabene in the Essikado-Ketan constitueney jolted their Member of Parliament, hooting and booing him. The reports said some people even attempted to physically assault him when he went to distribute bulbs in the community when the entire community of Diabene angrily and forcibly chased out Mr. Ghartey and warned him not to set foot in the area again. The reports also claimed that it took the intervention of the Queen mother of Diabene, Nana Araba Esoun II and the Unit Committee Chairman, Uncle Kwame Elu to save the MP from the wrath of the community alleging that the bodyguard of the MP also helped save the situation by whisking his boss into his saloon car, to the chagrin of the people. The reason behind the so-called action of the community was that the MP had deceived them with vague promises and that the community chased out the MP after some of them had subjected him to critical questions bothering on his alleged poor human relations and lack of respect for them. However, the Hon. Minister and Member of Parliament has denied the report insisting that any time he visited his constituents, it was cordial and peaceful. The Queen mother of Diabenekrom, Nana Abba Esoun II and the Youth Association of the town has vehemently denied the media reports with the youth declaring their undaunted support for their MP. According to Nana Abba Esoun II, she was a witness to the said gathering at which the MP presented some security lights to the town through her assuring that no untoward incident, as reported by a newspaper, happened. In an interview with this reporter, the queen mother noted that the people of the town were rather appreciative to their MP and even made more requests urging him to continue his good works. Reacting to the same media reports, the youth association led by their executives described the report as baseless and perhaps motivated by malice and mischief. Speaking to this reporter, Justice Quainoo, Organiser of the Youth Association recounted how the youth of the town accompanied their MP to their football playing field as they had earlier at the meeting requested that he changed the wooden goal posts metal ones. He therefore expressed surprise about the publication that sought to paint a totally different picture to the whole world. Mr. Quainoo also denied that their MP’s human relations was poor and that he has lost touch with them claiming that Hon. Ghartey has been visiting them at regular intervals to interact with them on various issues. Source: Nyame Concord