Four to challenge 16-year rule of Dr Ahmed

The  National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament  (MP) for  Ayawaso North, Dr Mustapha Ahmed (Maj Retd), is determined to hold on to his 16-year firm grip on power, as four other aspirants have emerged  to unseat him.

The four, who have stuck their heads to contest him are Mr Yusuf Jaja from the Zongo for NDC camp, Abdul Jalil Abdul Rahman,  Alhaji Mohammed Amin Lamptey and Ali Dauud of the NDC communication team.

Until Dr Ahmed’s arrival to file his nomination at the constituency office last Thursday, it seemed his reign in the constituency was coming to an end.

However, all were proved wrong two hours to the close of nominations when Dr Ahmed, who is also the Minister of Youth and  Sports, appeared on the scene with his supporters that comprised people of all walks of life to file his nomination.

Youth talents

Dr  Ahmed, who seemed not to be perturbed, said after filing his nomination that his constituency had abundant youth talents and as Minister of Youth and  Sports, he would promote sports, especially football, for the youth to unearth their talents.

He said he would also institute periodic medical screening for his constituents and help provide quality health care for the ordinary people.

He said the legacy he would like to leave behind was to establish a clinic and impart his medical knowledge to the younger generation as his contribution towards his constituency and Ghana in general.

He commended President John Dramani Mahama for elevating him to the status of minister, and said he would work hard to empower the youth with life skills.

Brotherliness

The Constituency Chairman, Mr Alhaji Tinaa Larry, urged the aspirants to conduct their campaign in an atmosphere of brotherliness so that after the campaign they could all root for the candidate who would emerge the winner.

The Member of Parliament for Keta, Mr Richard Quarshigah, accompanied the minister to file his nomination and said   both Dr Ahmed and he had a passion for beach football and had agreed to develop the sports in Accra and Keta (because both cities have beaches) as a means of providing the youth with life supporting ventures.

In another development, Gilbert Mawuli Agbey reports from Agona Swedru that the Member of Parliament for the Agona West Constituency, Mr Charles Obeng-Inkoom, will go unopposed in the upcoming parliamentary primaries of the NDC which are scheduled to take place on November 7, 2015 across the country.

As at close of nomination on Thursday, he was the only candidate who had submitted his nomination forms to contest in the party’s primaries.

In the party’s primaries prior to the 2012 general election, the incumbent MP contested against the current Agona West Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Oppong, and emerged winner.

The MP submitted his forms, together with his filing fee of GH¢10,000, on the last day for the close of nominations to Mr Emmanuel Korley, Constituency Secretary, at a short ceremony which was attended by some party members at the constituency office at Agona Swedru.

Mr Obeng-Inkoom thanked the party members for reposing confidence in him and making him go unopposed in the upcoming parliamentary primaries of the party.