“What if I die” was the response when the host of Kumasi-based Abusua FM’s ‘Abusua Nkomo’, Kojo Marfo asked Lawyer Kwasi Amofa-Agyemang on his insistence to contest as an independent parliamentary candidate in the Bekwai constituency contrary to his party’s position.
The Private Legal Practitioner has rejected pleas from the ruling National Patriotic Party’s (NPP) for which he is a member of Functional Executives and elders to reconsider his decision to contest the December polls as an independent parliamentary candidate in the Bekwai constituency.
He says he is on a rescue mission to deliver ‘his constituents’ from what he described as ‘poverty and hardship’ the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) who doubles as the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu (Joe Wise) has superintended and visited upon them.
He noted on Abusua FM that he could die if he decides to wait another four years before he commences his ‘ordained mission’ as the story of Jonah in the Bible remains an inspiration and lesson to him.
“Kojo, What if I die?… You say F.F Antoh claims he has told me to rescind my decision to contest as an independent candidate that is a blatant lie. I haven’t met F.F Antoh in any meeting whatsoever. We haven’t even met before so I don’t know what he is saying but let me say that my God-given mission is to rescue my people from the hardships the MP has supervised over these years.
It’s like the constituency is only about Bekwai but there are towns within it that has no decent water source and many others.”
“Anywhere I go, I campaign for President Akufo-Addo and then myself. We need change at Bekwai and I can’t wait for four more years to begin my mission. What if I die? Anything can happen.
I have served the party. I was part of the NPP’s legal team of the 2012 election petition… The time for a change in Bekwai is now do I urge all my constituents to vote for me on December 7 and vote massively for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”
Background
Lawyer Kwasi Amofa-Agyemang was disqualified in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary primaries at the Bekwai constituency which paved the way for incumbent MP, Joseph Osei-Owusu, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament to go unopposed.
He said at a news conference after his disqualification that he has received numerous calls to go independent hence his decision to go solo.
His independent candidature, he says, will address the issue of apathy among his teeming supporters who have vowed not to take part in elections.
This Mr Amofa-Agyemang explained, can help him win the seat for the NPP as an independent candidate.
He revealed going round the constituency, he has observed the ground is fertile for his victory.
This is the second time in 16-years a losing NPP parliamentary hopeful is contesting as an independent candidate.
The incumbent MP, then former DVLA boss breached party constitution by going independent after losing to the then MP for the area and Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Kofi Opoku-Adusei in 2008.
Mr. Opoku-Adusei won that closed contest with 70 votes against 69 polled by his closest contender, Joe Osei-Wusu in that closed contest.
Supporters of the two parliamentary hopefuls staged counter violent demonstrations in Bekwai.
Though Mr. Osei-Wusu was subsequently expelled after he launched his campaign in Ofoase-Kokoben, he won the Bekwai parliamentary seat and later rejoined the NPP.
-MyNewsGh
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