Anane & Co Blow NPP Apart

Three Members of Parliament of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region have caused confusion in their respective constituencies, following what has been described as a shocking u-turn over their earlier decision to step down at the end of their term of office. Members of Parliaments for Subin, Oforikrom and Nhyiaeso have incurred the anger of their lieutenants after reports emerged that they have reneged on their promise not to contest again after 2016. Hon. Isaac Osei, Hon. Elizabeth Agyemang and Dr. Richard Winfred Anane have thrown their respective constituencies into a state of chaos, ahead of party primaries later this year, following a late shift in position. Information available to The Chronicle indicates that potential aspirants seeking to contest the seats have already begun underground campaigning to sell themselves to the delegates in anticipation that they would contest in the primaries. In the case of Subin and Oforikrom, the paper gathered that there was tacit understanding between the incumbent MPs and key contestants that once they were not going to contest again, they would give their blessings to people they prefer to succeed them. SUBIN CONSTITUENCY Whilst Hon. Isaac Osei reportedly was expected to hand over the baton to a former aspirant and a Member of Council of Elders of the party, Mr. Eugene Antwi, Hon. Elizabeth Agyemang was expected to give her blessings to the Constituency Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, a lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology(KNUST). Eugene Antwi, who has nursed the ambition to occupy the seat since 2008, when the then MP, Hon. Sampson Kwaku Boafo, took a bow, lost to the incumbent, Hon. Isaac Osei, who was then the Chief Executive Officer of the COCOBOD. He gave Hon. Isaac Osei a safe passage in 2012, in anticipation that a similar gesture will be offered him at the appropriate time. The appropriate time, however, is the upcoming primaries and things appear to be on course, until a few months ago when rumours started making rounds that Hon. Isaac Osei may not take a bow after all, and has made a sharp u-turn to go for the third consecutive time. OFORIKROM CONSTITUENCY Hon. Elizabeth Agyemang, popularly known as �People�s Mother� has obviously put her Constituency Chairman, Dr. Marfo, in a very tight position. Unlike some other constituencies where the incumbent MPs and their chairmen often engage in conflicts, Hon. Agyemang has enjoyed the total support of her chairman. Perhaps that cordial relationship could soon come to an end if the incumbent MP insists on contesting again, as the chairman also has his eyes firmly fixed on entering the august house by 2017. If ongoing negotiations and diplomatic approaches stall, the constituency could witness a massive battle during the primaries. NHYIAESO CONSTITUENCY On the part of Hon. Richard Anane, there has been massive scramble for his seat by some young and active politicians ever since news broke that he was bringing his two decades of active legislative work to an end, after 2016. The current Regional Organizer, Kennedy Kankam, a Member of the NPP Communication machinery, Stephen Amoah, aka Sticker and a son of Mr. Appiah Menkah, a leading member of the party, are all preparing feverishly to try their lucks in a constituency described as one of the safest seats of the opposition. Rumours of the former Roads Minister�s decision to call it a quits, surfaced last year after failing to secure victories for his favourite candidates during the party�s constituency elections. Dr. Anane appeared to be fighting a lonely battle after losing the support of the incumbent chairman, Mr. George Adjei, popularly known as �Joe Kartz�, whilst his decision to sponsor other sets of candidates to replace the then incumbent as a way of perpetuating his reign did not also materialize.