Some aggrieved youth of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Atiwa West constituency of the Eastern Region have appealed to the party’s hierarchy to change the Minister of Roads and MP for the area, Kwasi Amoako Atta, as the party’s parliamentary candidate into the general elections.
The youth say, failure on the part of the party to do so will compel them to work and vote against the party in the 2020 general elections.
The youth’s call follows the disqualification of one Dr. Samuel Owusu Akyem by the NPP’s National Parliamentary Vetting Committee (NPVC) from contesting the Atiwa West NPP parliamentary primaries.
Loss of popularity
The youth say the MP has lost popularity in the area and presenting him into the general election will dwindle the party’s chances. They have also alleged the disqualification of Mr. Akyem was orchestrated by the MP.
At a press conference, spokesperson for the group, Kwakye Maxwell, also called on the national executive committee of the party to reconsider the disqualification of Mr. Akyem.
Response
Meanwhile, the constituency leadership of the party has refuted allegations by the group that the MP orchestrated the disqualification of Mr. Akyem.
In a press statement signed by the constituency chairman, Ayim Darkwa, they entreated the general public, party faithful and the teeming supporters of NPP, especially those in Atiwa West, to disregard the unsubstantiated allegations made against the MP.
He said never at any point did the incumbent MP, either by himself or delegation intended to compel Dr. Akyem to resign from the contest.
He added that the disqualification of Dr. Akyem was based on his inability to point any contributions he has made to the party in the last two years as stipulated in the party’s guidelines for aspiring candidates among other issues.
