Some executives of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Kwesimintsim Constituency of the Western Region, have served notice they may break away from the party if the party fails to hold a primary to elect its parliamentary candidate “in the shortest possible time.”
According to the aggrieved executives, the top hierarchy of the NPP has failed to resolve a year long legal battle challenging the disqualification of one Joseph Mensah, who wanted to contest the incumbent MP, Joe Baidoo Ansah.
Mr. Joseph Mensah was allegedly accused by Joe Baidoo Ansah of “not being a true member of the party and bears a fake party card, among other acts, which are grounds to disqualify him”.
The matter was sent to the Sekondi High Court by Mr. Joseph Mensah where he also secured an injunction on the primary in the constituency, until the final determination of the case.
But for over a year now, the finality of the case is yet to be seen. As a result, the Kwesiminstim Constituency is yet to have a parliamentary candidate with barely four months to the elections in December.
At a news conference in Takoradi organized by some aggrieved members of the party in the constituency, the Kwesimintsim Constituency Secretary, Charles Fynn Thompson, noted that “the top hierarchy of the party has been lenient, and has shown clearly that they want to impose Joe Baidoe Ansah on us. They did this by leveling unsubstantiated criminal allegations against Joseph Mensah. For over a year, not one of those allegations have been proven in court. So what are we waiting for, hold elections for the people to choose who they want to represent them in parliament. Anything short of elections will be fiercely rejected”.
Mr. Thompson, who was surrounded by other youth and party supporters also declared that, if the party fails to do what is expected of it, “Joseph Mensah will go independent, and we will openly campaign against the party ahead of the general elections.”
He also warned all “those big men in the party at the regional and national level including respected men of God calling on Joseph Mensah to step down, to desist from their behavior and stick to the rule of law”.
He reiterated their stance that “anything short of elections for the grassroots to choose who we want will be fiercely rejected”.
The Kwesimintsim constituency is the only constituency in the country yet to have a parliamentary candidate ahead of the general elections in December.
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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana