We�re Not Breaking The Law By Supporting Nana � NPP MPs

Some serving Members of Parliament (MPs) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) insist they did not breached the party�s constitution by publicly declaring their support for candidates in the NPP�s presidential race. Some NPP MPs on Tuesday publicly declared their support for two-time presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo during his campaign launch ahead of the party�s primaries. Their action has been declared illegal by some party officials who say MPs and other party executives are not permitted to declare support for any candidate. But speaking to Citi News, some MPs said no law in the party bans them from supporting any candidate of their choice. MP for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu Ekuful retorted saying, �nowhere does our party�s constitution say that; nowhere and I want you to quote me.� She explained that every party member has the right to support and campaign for any candidate of their choice because �throughout the primaries we�ve had over the years, we have had sitting MPs being part of the campaign teams of the aspirants. There is nothing wrong with that.� The Ablekuma legislator noted that some other aspirants are complaining because �they may think that puts them at a disadvantage but we have our democratic right to support any member of our choice.� The MP for Tema West, Irene Naa Torshie Addo also told Citi News, she supports the candidature of Nana Addo because she has a personal relationship with him. �Not when I�ve worked with him for 12 years in the same chambers. When he was made Foreign Minister, I was made Deputy Ambassador. I�m a daughter of his, entered his chambers in 1996 and I worked with him throughout and we�ve worked towards this goal,� she said. Naa Torshie Addo continued saying, �I am head and toe, spirit, body and soul Akufo-Addo so as for me, no!� The Atiwa East lawmaker, Abena Osei-Asare on her part indicated that there are seven aspirants vying for the flagbearer position and although all of them are very competent, Nan Addo is the most qualified to represent the party. �We believe that we have tried Nana Addo the first, the second so let�s give him the third chance. He has something that we believe will go a long way to help our cause.� The seven aspirants vying for the position are Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo -Addo, 2012 presidential candidate of the party, Alan Kyerematen, a former Minister, Francis Addai Nimoh, MP for Mampong and Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, also a former Minister. The rest are Stephen Asamoah Boateng, also a former Minister, Joe Ghartey, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Essikado-Ketan; and Kofi Osei Ameyaw, MP for Assuogyaman.