NDC is jittery–NPP

By Bismark Bebli

THE CONSTITUENCY Executives of the Sefwi-Wiawso branch of New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Western Region have stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is very jittery over their chances in the 2008 general elections.

According to them, because the NDC has become very jittery and panicky, they have resorted to attempts of tarnishing the image of their (NPP) Parliamentary candidate, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, also a former Minister of Health.

In a swift reaction to allegations that the aspiring NPP MP assaulted one Kwabena Bennie, the Executives described the story as misinformation and untruth being peddled against the ex-Minister of Health, adding that the NDC was making political capital out of nothing.

“We wish to categorically deny any incident of assault imputed to Dr Afriyie on one Kwabena Bennie. We shall like to place on record that Dr Afriyie, as humble, affable and God-fearing as he is, will not intentionally succumb under any pressure to such mediocrity.” This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Anthony Amankwa, first Vice Chairman when they denied any wrongdoing on the part of their parliamentary candidate.

“We wish to state categorically once again that our opponents are creating an atmosphere of fear, terror and anarchy at Sefwi-Wiawso and its environs to cause a feeling of insecurity and instability. This, we as party executives will not preside over. We therefore condemn any attempt to use the press to polarize our people and intimidate them from expressing their constitutional liberties,” the statement continued.

Giving a brief account on Mr Bennie, Mr Amankwa said, the complainant once led a group of people amidst brass band music and ousted the then NDC Constituency Chairman, Nana Boakye Yiadom now National Chief Farmer, from office.

According to him, the same person had the effrontery to cast insinuations at the late Nana Kwaduo Aduhene, Omanhene of the Wiawso Traditional Area and his men and had to crawl back to apologize.

Narrating the whole incident in the statement, Mr Amankwa said Dr Afriyie runs a radio programme on Liberty FM, a local radio station free of charge as one of his social responsibilities to the people.

He said the programme has attracted a lot of listeners, which is a source of worry to the NDC.

He said the group of people who attacked the former Minister who was on his way to the radio station were suspected to be functionaries of the NDC.

According to Mr Amankwa, the Doctor had to struggle to free himself from the thugs and stated that they were not sure of the reason behind what they described as a barbaric act against a distinguished citizen.The NPP executives maintained that the attack on the aspiring candidate was politically motivated and underscored that the man at the centre of alleged attack was an NDC sympathizer.

“Dr Afriyie`s political opponents who have taken entrenched positions in the Sefwi Wiawso chieftaincy dispute want to associate him with a faction which he finds naïve and irresponsible.”

The NPP Executives asserted that the people of Sefwi-Wiawso had realized the contributions that Dr Afriyie was making in their socio-economic lives. “He has been able to influence the Ghana Cocoa Board through the presentation of a paper to pay cocoa bonuses in the lean period.”