Atiwa West NPP(PRESS RELEASE): Don’t Blame Road Minister For Your Disqualification – Party Executives Refute Allegations

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Barely six weeks to the NPP parliamentary primaries, there are series of allegations in the Atiwa West constituency following the disqualification of one aspirant during the vetting process.

Due to that, the executives of the noble party have released a press statement to address the numerous allegations among which they entreat the general public, party faithfuls and the teeming supporters of NPP especially those in Atiwa West to disregard the unsubstantiated allegations that the road minister and incumbent member of Parliament for the constituency, Hon. Kwasi Amoako Atta is directly or indirectly involved in the disqualification of Dr Samuel Owusu Akyem, disqualified aspirant.

They also revealed in the same press statement signed by the chairman Mr Ayim Darkwa and the communication Director Mr Yaw Ofori, available to Radio1News that never at any point did the minister either by himself or delegation intended to settle Dr Akyem to resign from the contest before vetting.

The youth of Atiwa west had on Friday 13th March 2020 held a press conference to brief the media their concerns prior to the NPP Parliamentary primaries and brought out series of allegations.

Find below the press statement;

PRESS RELEASE
Our attention has been drawn to series of allegations emanating from a group of individuals within the Atiwa West constituency against the sitting member of parliament, Hon. Kwasi Amoako Atta who also doubles as the Minister of Roads and the entire constituency executive members.
The allegations borders on corruption, fraud incompetence and inactiveness on the part of the MP for Atiwa West leading to lack of developments in the constituency.

DISQUALIFICATION OF DR. OWUSU AKYEM:

The MP aspirant who was disqualified after his vetting by the Eastern regional executives and representatives from the national on 7th March 2020 in Koforidua cannot be attributed to the MP OR THE CONSTITUENCY EXECUTIVES. His failure to pin point any contribution to the party in the last two years as stipulated in the party guidelines for aspiring candidates and his ignorance on the number of polling stations in the constituency were the basis for his disqualification. It will therefore be hollow to think that it was orchestrated by Hon. Amoako Atta because he refused to accept an offer GHC 150,000.00 from him to step down so he, Hon. Amoako Atta goes unopposed. It beats the imagination of the MP and the executives for people to have such thoughts in this era of civilization. We there call on all those making such allegation to either provide documentary evidence to that effect or retract such allegation in the shortest possible time in order not to incur the wrath of the law courts. We want to buttress the point that at no time has the MP or any of his associates met the said aspirants to have any discussion of that sort.

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP: it is also alleged that constituency executive members were given slots of scholarship for brilliant but needy students in the constituency but they sold them to the highest bidders thereby denying the real beneficiaries. A little check by these individuals could have saved them from this embarrassment since scholarships are awarded by the scholarship secretariat through the district assemblies as they have been decentralized by this government. The party executives have no access to how the awards are given and therefore can’t ‘sell ‘to the highest bidders.

CONSTITUENCY OFFICE REFURBISHMENT: followers of Dr. Owusu Akyem allege that the constituency was provided with computers and air conditioners by him. We want to state on record that it is palpable false since the said logistics were provided by one Mr. Kissi Abrah of Accra. It is interesting to note that Dr. Owusu Akyem was approached by the Banso branch some time ago to assist them in the acquisition of an office accommodation. After paying an amount of GHC 300.00 out of the total sum of GHC1200.00, he reneged on his promise after his failure to win the constituency chairmanship race in 2018.

LACK OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: the allegation of inadequate development projects in the constituency by the MP smacks of ingratitude on the part of those making this wild allegation.
It is worthy to note that the MP who was first elected to parliament in 2010 through the famous Atiwa bye elections had to be in the minority for his first six years till 2017 when the NPP won power. Throughout those years he single handedly brought infrastructural projects to the constituency through hi share of the common fund and other personal sources of income which are all available for fact checking. The last three years of his stay in the house has seen massive infrastructural projects being undertaken in the constituency with some completed and others yet to start. Below is a list of projects through his lobby and influence that the constituency is benefiting.
Construction of a senior High School in Abomosu
Six unit classroom block at Amapatia
2 storey six unit classroom block at Awenare Presby basic school
A theatre block at Kwabeng Health Centre (90% complete)
Extension of electricity to 8 communities ( Abresu Wekpeti, Kwaku Addae,Mampong, Abrenya, Abresu Attifi, Akwadum Ga, Yohuno and Biremso) expected to be completed by end of 2020.
A fire station at Kwabeng
Approval for the construction of a district hospital at Kwabeng
Ongoing projects by the MP through his common fund:
6 unit classroom block at Kwabeng Islamic School
6 unit classroom block at Akobouso
6 unit classroom block at Jamasi
Provision of boreholes at Awenare, Jamasi, Aakropong, Sekubenase, Abomosu and Asunafo.

ROADS: it’s a fact that our honorable MP doubles as the road minister but he can’t bring all road construction contracts to his constituency but he has managed to let the constituency have it share of road projects in the country. There is massive road construction ongoing in the constituency and can be seen in the 2019 half year budget review presented to parliament by the finance minister in mid 2019.
Anyinam to Kwabeng
Kwabeng to Abomosu
Kwabeng to Akropong
10 kolimeters of Kwabeng Town Roads
Akropong Town Roads.
All these were awarded within the last three years and are ongoing.
Let’s put on record that Kwabeng Anglican Senior High Technical School will in the coming days receive a brand new bus to replace the damaged one all through the lobbying of our MP.

We can say on authority that an appreciable number of our youth have been employed into most of our public institutions and the security services through the effort of Hon. Amoako Atta.
The claim that the MP has allowed the mining company in the constituency to leave open pits uncovered is extremely malicious and an act of ignorance on their part. Extra Gold is a large scale mining company and thus supervised by the minerals commission and the Environmental Protection Agency and hence the MP has no authority to order for the covering of their pits. It is the responsibility of the aforementioned institutions and the district security council to see to it that their unused pits are covered and not the MP.
It is interesting to note that Hon. Amoako Atta was even against the disqualification of any candidate and was ready to battle any contender but it’s just unfortunate that Dr. Owusu Akyem was disqualified.
We welcome all meaning citizens of Atiwa West both home and abroad to help in the development of our communities.
We wish to state that the constituency executives remain resolute behind the MP in the discharge of his duties to enhance development in Atiwa West.
Atiwa West on the rise
Long live NPP
4more4Nana
4more4Amoakoatta
THANK YOU

………………………….. ………………………….
Mr. Ayim Darkwah Mr. Ofori Yaw
Constituency Chairman Communications Director
0205490514 0249407981

By: Radio1News|Ghana|Obido Nana Gyasi