The incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the Akuapem South constituency, Osei Bonsu Amoah, has said that his decision to withdraw from the upcoming NPP parliamentary elections was borne out of national and party interests.
In a letter dated January 19 and addressed to the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, the four-term NPP legislator, declared his intention to resign from the race and subsequently requested that his name be deleted from the ballot.
In an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, OB Amoah, as he is popularly known, said, “It is for the people to judge whether I will be missed or not, and I cannot say whether I will be missed or not. I have been in Parliament for four terms and have also served in the executive, gathering a lot of experience along the way. I am still active in the party. I withdrew for the national interest of the party and personal interest.”
He further stated that he has constantly been engaging delegates to ensure there’s peace and stability before, during, and after the polls, urging them to also rally behind whoever emerges victorious.
“I meet delegates and speak to them every time, and the most critical thing is on Saturday, we have peaceful elections and rally behind the winner to ensure that we retain the seat.”
The Chairman of the party’s Research Committee indicated that he is committed to the party and thus will continue to serve in any capacity.
NPP Primaries: OB Amoah withdraws from Akuapem South Constituency race
He also noted that his decision not to seek re-election, just a few days before the primaries, has undergone thorough consultation with the party’s hierarchy, adding that he will actively participate in the affairs of the party both at the national and constituency levels.
This development now leaves Eric Apeadu Yeboah, Kwame Ofori Gyawu, and Samuel Annor Mensah to fiercely contest for the seat the Member of Parliament has held for four consecutive terms.
Meanwhile, according to the Eastern Regional Secretary of the NPP, Kofi Osei-Adjei, the Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Mr. Frank Aidoo, who was initially disqualified, has petitioned the party to reconsider his decision to join the race following the withdrawal of Hon. OB Amoah.
According to the NPP, it was against the rules for an MCE to contest a sitting member of parliament who has declared to run. On this background, Frank Aidoo was disqualified.
It is not entirely clear why OB Amoah has withdrawn abruptly from the race, a move critics believe is to pave the way for the outgoing MP to have his ‘anointed one’ win the seat in the Saturday primaries. However, there are also allegations of the lawmaker orchestrating the disqualification of Mr. Frank Aidoo.
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