The Western Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr Charles Bissue has said Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) who want to be Members of Parliament for the NPP must resign two years ahead of the main elections.
He believes that this will ensure fairness in the process of electing an MP aspirant.
“Unless of course the MP is depreciating [in terms of voter preference]. Sometime ago during my service as Presidential Staffer, somebody urged me to contest Kojo Kum [MP- Ahanta West, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs].
“I replied that should it be the case that the MP can be a Presidential Staffer, I will go and contest him. We are in the same political party, and we have elected and appointed positions… We see a CEO of a state organization threatening to unseat an MP within the party. Why?
“In this day and age of 2024, I am advocating that a CEO resigns two years before the election. DCEs are not allowed to contest parliamentary elections, same with the regional Secretary and others.
The rational was that, the party officer’s place is in the constituency and the MP is parliament. Allowing the party executive to contest the sitting MP will make the latter unproductive.
“Unless the person’s votes is depreciating. At that point, it is right to make such calls for his replacement.
“If we are not allowing a DCE, party secretary, treasurer to contest elections where there is a sitting MP, why should there be an exception for CEOs. Around this time, with Adwoa Sarfo’s situation…you know what is going to happen? An MP will say he’s going to stay in the constituency and not come to parliament. Who suffers?”
Source: 3news.com|Ghana