Mr. Glover accused Mr. Ashitey of intruding into the affairs of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Tema East Constituency and creating confusion among members.

Mr. Glover said this on Tuesday after the Tema High Court dismissed an injunction application against the NPP’s elections in the constituency.

[contextly_sidebar id=”xqyCfqmFg58Ymv2pgsRXzFP7dowfx46Q”]He alleged that the Minister was doing everything he could to get his nephew Benjamin Ashitey elected as MP for the area.

Benjamin Ashitey contested the party’s parliamentary primaries ahead of the general elections in 2016 but lost to Mr Glover who was then the incumbent.

He questioned why the Regional Minister could not distance himself from the constituency’s internal affairs, adding that he had had his chance to oversee the area for 12 years when he was the MP.

“I am tired of him, I struggled to win this seat for this party, I started with three votes now I am on 4,025, I moved President Akufo-Addo from negative 1,500 from 2012 in the constituency and he now won 6,000 more against former President Mahama”, he emphasized.

“What crime have I committed against him? He has worried me for a long time and anywhere I pass, he is there, he should leave me alone to work for the country ” he retorted

He further stated that he had risen through the party’s ranks to become an MP, therefore, it was unfortunate that the Regional Minister wanted his nephew who defected from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to jump to the top without first serving at the grassroots.

Mr. Glover added that the behaviour of the Minister was not only an affront to him, but would also affect their family ties as they were third cousins.

The Deputy Transport Minister cautioned the Regional Minister to put a stop to his interferences as failure to do so may strain their relationship even further.

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Source: GNA

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This, he said, will bring an end to the unlawful acts of the land guards, many of whom are believed to have been hired by the traditional rulers to intimidate individuals who have rightfully purchased the lands.

[contextly_sidebar id=”QJz2li4IZMIQH5kTezXUGQLabSq7tD0C”]Cases of land guards terrorizing residents have risen in recent times in and around the capital.

A security expert, Dr. Kwesi Aning, accused the Police of not exhibiting enough seriousness in dealing with the menace.

The Police Administration has since responded to the growing concerns with operations to clamp down on land guard activities in the Greater Accra Region, which have resulted in over 60 arrests since October.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Ashitey said the police are up to the task to end the land guard menace within the region, beginning with a crackdown on the financiers of their operations.

“Those who are hiring these [land guards], when you arrest them [the chiefs] then, the land guards will stop working because they are their paymasters… Those self-styled chiefs who are hiring the land guards are strongly the source and the solution to the problem.”

“I think nowadays, they have started arresting them. They arrest the land guards and then they point to who are their paymasters. It is working. The regional commander is working on it,” the Minister said.

Job creation to curb menace

When he was nominated as Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Ashitey had pledged to ensure the creation of jobs for the youth to keep them from engaging in illegal activities.

He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the youth in the region get jobs,  insisting that this would ensure they are not exploited.

“People are taking advantage of these young men because they do not have jobs. That is why I am so happy with the one district, one factory policy. When we are able to give these people gainful employment, I think we will be able to reduce this land guard menace,” he said at the time.

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By: Philip Nii Lartey & Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to Mr. Ashitey, the nominee who coincidentally bears the same surname [Ashitey] with him, has no family connection with him whatsoever, adding that he as the Regional Party Chairmam,  is rather related to the MP, Titus Glover.

“Titus is my nephew and it remains so. Ben Ashitey has no relationship with me. It just so happens that we bare the same surname”

Earlier this week, some executives of the Tema East constituency NPP held a press conference accusing Mr. Ishmael Ashitey of rooting for one Ben Ashitey whom they claim is related to the Regional Chairma,  to become the MCE for the Tema Metropolis.

In an interview with Citi News at his Tema residence, Mr. Ishmael Ashitey, who has also been nominated to be the Greater Accra Regional Minister, denied the allegations and said “though we bear the same surname, the young man has no family relation with me; but rather it is Titus who is related to me. I am Titus’ uncle” he noted

He said there are five Clans in the capital that bear the name Ashitey, and that it is a mere coincidence for which he and the MCE aspirant bare the same name.

Asked whether he had an interest in the gentleman’s quest to become the MCE for Tema, he said “the NPP is a democratic party that has laid down procedures and systems that would be followed in the selection of who becomes an MCE, and that the party has what it is looking for in a candidate to be selected so why would I back any candidate? They have all applied on their own merit and the party will look through their CVs and select the best for the people. Factors to be considered however would include the candidate’s commitment, dedication and loyalty to the party,” he explained.

He accused Mr. Titus Glover of fighting a personal battle with Ben Ashitey since the young man contested him during the NPP primary in 2015, where he [Ben Ashitey] lost by a margin of 49 votes.

“Titus is fighting a personal fight for the guy to be disqualified in the race because he sees him as a threat in future. Ben Ashitey contested Titus Glover in 2015 during the constituency primary so perhaps he sees him as a threat in future because he won the guy by 49 votes”

Mr. Ashitey noted that, he handpicked Titus Glover and some other candidates from a Tema-based association called Tema Youth years ago, and introduced them to the NPP so under no circumstance will he work against him.

“I handpicked Titus and some other guys who were at the time strong NDC surporters in Tema, and introduced them to the NPP; so why would I work against my own boys that I handpicked years ago? As we speak, some of the guys I handpicked and brought into the NPP are equally vying for the MCE position. So I don’t have any personal interest in who becomes an MCE in Tema. All I need is someone who understands the party’s vision clearly to help the party deliver on its numerous promises to the people” he stated

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By: Elvis Washington/citifmoline.com/Ghana

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