Afram Plains NDC Boils

Tension is brewing in the Kwahu-Afram Plains South branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Eastern Region, as Eric Osei-Owusu, who was defeated in the last primary, has started pasting his posters on structures in the constituency ahead of the general elections.

Mr. Osei-Owusu, who placed second in the primary with the incumbent MP, indicated that he had been authorized to contest for the seat despite an attempt by some people to impose Mark-Oliver Kevor on the constituents.

Eastern Regional Secretary, Oliver Mark-Kevor was tipped by some people to replace the incumbent MP, Joseph Appiah Boateng, who withdrew from the race due to a court case.

Mr Boateng withdrew from the race on the final day of the filing of nominations.

The MP took the decision after a court granted a motion filed by one Dickson Adjei Danso that he (MP) should be withdrawn from the race because of a court case.

Mr. Kevor claims he has an authorization letter from the National Chairman of the NDC to stand on the party’s ticket, while Mr Osei-Owusu, on the other hand, insists he had been authorized by the General Secretary of the party.

The party confirmed the candidature of Mr. Kevor, but Mr. Osei-Owusu told DAILY GUIDE that he would launch his campaign in next week.

According to him, his nomination forms had been accepted by the Electoral Commission (EC).

Youth Concerns

Meanwhile, a group calling itself Concerned National Democratic Congress (NDC) members of Afram Plains South Constituency, which is dissatisfied with the party’s decision, in a press statement, called on the national executives to compel Mr. Kevor to withdraw his nomination to pave way for Mr Osei-Owusu.

The group disclosed that Mr. Osei-Owusu, who placed second in the party’s primary, has been unfairly treated.

A statement, signed by the secretary of the group, Hercules Addofo, said the General Secretary of the party, Johnson Aseidu Nketia, had issued a letter to Mr. Eric Osei-Owusu to file his nominations and contest for the Afram Plains South seat.

“These regional executives’ attempt to get Mr. Mark-Oliver Kevor to contest duplicates the authority of the General Secretary. This indeed would be unfair to Mr. Osei-Owusu, who demonstrated commitment by investing huge resources to contest in the primary against the incumbent who has withdrawn due to some legal issues.”

“This unfair treatment of Mr. Osei-Owusu provokes legitimate questions such as: who issues official directives for the party? On which authority would anybody in government or party issue a counter directive against that of the general secretary, who is the legally mandated administrator of the party? Do they really know that their conduct would bastardize the future of the party and that they need to be circumspect? If Mr. Kevor wanted to be an MP why didn’t he contest in the previous primary.”

“It’s revealing to know that the General Secretary is the authority who issued the introductory letters to all the 275 PCs in the country, including Mr. Eric Osei-Owusu to contest in their various constituencies. So why should Mr. Osei Owusu’s case be treated differently?”

“In view of this, we wish to call on the National Executives to compel Mr. Kevor to step aside for Mr. Eric Osei-Owusu, who has been vetted and had participated in the primary to contest for the NDC in the Afram Plains constituency.

Protest

Last Monday, before the petition came out, some irate supporters of NDC locked the offices of the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area and prevented him from working, accusing him of conspiring with Mr Osei-Owusu to compel the incumbent to withdraw from the race.