It has emerged that Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Emmanuel Victor Smith, may attempt to contest for the Abuakwa North parliamentary seat in the Eastern Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
This follows the resignation of the NDC’s parliamentary nominee for the constituency, Anthony Gyimah.
[contextly_sidebar id=”BDsAWwpgBmN92jlbdZoBEInm8nndp5Zc”]Without explicitly declaring his intentions, Mr. Smith told Citi News any action he took regarding the parliamentary nominee slot would be in the interest of the NDC winning the Abuakwa North constituency.
“I said I am considering it. I didn’t give a straight answer to anybody. I am considering it. Anything I can do to bring progress to the party and to the constituency, I would consider.”
The NDC in the Eastern Region has said the party will open nominations for the slot tomorrow [Wednesday], and Mr. Smith intimated that his intentions would be clearer come the Friday, the deadline for submission of the forms.
“Come tomorrow [Wednesday], when the nominations are open, we will see if I pick up forms and if I do pick up forms, whether I would resubmit it by Friday. Whether I am going forward with it, you will get to know.”
Gyimah’s resignation not influenced
Mr. Smith who lost to the NPP’s late JB Danquah in the 2012 elections, denied allegations he influenced Anthony Gyimah to step down as the party’s parliamentary nominee.
“I had the opportunity to contest at the primary and I was approached. People appealed to me and I said no, somebody else can do it,” Mr. Smith argued.
“Tony Gyimah was somebody who contacted me and I said he could go if he so wished. If for any reason he has decided to step down, be it personal as he said, together we would all have to work together for the progress of the constituency.”
Anthony Gyimah’s resignation
The Deputy Eastern Regional Secretary of the NDC, Francis Annoh Dompreh, confiremd to Citi News that the executives had received and accepted Mr. Gyimah’s resignation letter.
“[Mr Gyimah] came to meet us with a letter that he has stepped aside and is resigning as the parliamentary candidate for Abuakwa North constituency. He did not actually state any reason in the letter but just that he wants to step aside for the NDC and for the sake of unity,” Mr. Annoh added.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana