Dr. Anane, Isaac Osei Lost Because They Did Not Share Money-Solomon Nkansah

The ruling National Democratic Party (NDC) has described last Saturday's parliamentary primaries of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) as an exercise of “rituals, vindictiveness, chaos and money sharing.”

National Communications Officer of the NDC, Solomon Nkansah, in an interview with the Daily Heritage, also described members of the NPP as “democratic miscreants” whose actions ought to be condemned by all stakeholders for sharing huge sums of money at the party’s recent primaries.

Mr. Nkansah stated that big names such as Isaac Osei, MP for Subin, Dr. Richard Anane, MP for Nhyiaeso and Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, MP for Kwadaso lost their seats because they were real democrats who did not want to influence the process through money-sharing.

The NDC National Communications Officer added that most of the incumbent MPs who lost their seats were key supporters of Alan Kyerematen, who were being punished by followers of the party's flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo.

Mr. Nkansah further named Efigya Sekyere East and Kwadaso as part of the constituencies whose delegates were coerced to swear oaths to vote for certain aspirants.

“Members of the NPP did not trust themselves and they always want to be induced with money before they vote for a candidate and this does not bring out the best people who can truly serve their people,” the former Propaganda Secretary asserted.

“All those who paid for votes have bought the conscience of the delegates because they don't trust them and they are going to do something that will not serve the interest of the people when they go to parliament,” he added.

Mr. Nkansah, however, admitted that the process was democratic and a good lesson for the ruling NDC because they will promote the best candidates among the constituents without the influence of money.

For the Kwabre East constituency where the incumbent, Kofi Frimpong was beaten by a second year law student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Francisca Oteng-Mensah, the Communications Officer said his party would capitalize on the lapses of the candidate to win more votes although “it is a NPP stronghold.”

She defeated the incumbent MP for the constituency, Kofi Frimpong by polling 321 votes as against 202 for Osei-Poku. The incumbent Frimpong had 187 while the other contender Adjei- Sefa managed 33.

The head of the Political Science Department of KNUST, Dr. Richard Amoako Baah, also cast a slur on the NPP for electing the 22-year-old student as a parliamentary candidate.

Speaking to Morning Starr host, Kafui Dey, Dr. Amoako Baah said the NPP should not have allowed Oteng-Mensah to stand for the election.

“Look, there is nothing wrong with parents pushing their children ahead, nothing wrong with it. But sometimes if you do it quickly and you are not careful it would mess them up.

“This one is not good. I'm telling you it's not good. Young people should come in, she is too young and not experienced, and not money of her own. Her parents are sponsoring her. Is that how it's supposed to be?” he asked.

“Young does not mean teenagers and people like that. Not students. Not undergraduate students. This one is undergraduate second year law student.”

About 24 incumbent MPs lost their seats on Saturday out of which 13 were from the Ashanti Region, three from the Eastern Region and two from the Greater Accra Region.

Some of the top names included Isaac Osei, MP for Subin, Dr. Richard Anane, MP for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Kwadaso MP, one time presidential aspirant, Francis Addai-Nimoh, MP for Mampong and W. O. Boafo, MP for Akropong.

The other high profile MPs were Gifty Klenam, MP for Lower West Akyem, Esther Obeng Dapaah, MP for New Abirim, Gifty Eugenia Kusi, MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem and Kofi Frimpong, MP for Kwabre East.