The National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has emphasized that the leadership of the NDC will take part in the Akwatia by-election fully prepared to win the seat, despite already having a two-thirds majority in parliament.
Although the Electoral Commission is yet to announce a date and outline modalities for the by-election following the passing of Akwatia MP Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Chairman of the NDC, Asiedu Nketiah, explained that the NDC is eager to win the Akwatia parliamentary seat.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with AMBASSADOR TV host Osei Kwadwo, the National Chairman of the NDC disclosed that “apart from 1992 elections where NDC won 189 seats in parliament, no political party has broken that record and it is my vision and mission as a National Chairman of NDC to either break that record or get 189 seats like we had in 1992.”
According to Asiedu Nketiah, “I have heard some people, especially some NPP members, pleading with the NDC not to contest the Akwatia seat because we (NDC) have two-thirds majority in parliament, but so far as NDC still has members in the Akwatia Constituency, we will still contest so that they (NDC members) can exercise their right to vote.”
“So I want to ask those telling NDC not to contest the Akwatia seat that, let’s assume two Ghanaians are in trouble in a different country and they need urgent support or intervention from government, can we say Ghanaians in Ghana here are many so there is no need for government to intervene for them?”
He added, “The reason why NDC boycotted the Ejisu by-election when Ejisu MP John Kumah died was because Ejisu constituency is an NPP stronghold and it was a few months to general elections, so the leadership of the NDC decided to concentrate on the general elections rather than the Ejisu by-election which we knew we couldn’t win.”
“Akwatia Constituency is a swing constituency so it is necessary to field a candidate to contest the elections since it is a 50/50 win for both NDC and NPP. But I believe NDC will win, looking at the performance of President John Mahama and the NDC since we assumed office.”
