By: Kwaku Mensah Abrampa | ignewss – Dormaa Ahenkro, Ghana
Former Jaman North Member of Parliament, Hon. Siaka Stevens, has withdrawn his decision to contest the Bono Regional First Vice Chairman position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), following calls from party delegates and traditional leaders for him to return to Parliament.
Hon. Stevens said he was persuaded by a group of NPP delegates and Nananom who held a press conference calling on him to contest the party’s parliamentary primaries in Jaman North.
According to him, the group believes his return to Parliament would strengthen the NPP’s chances of reclaiming the Jaman North seat in the 2028 general elections and attract further development to the constituency.
He explained that the delegates and traditional leaders compared his record during his two terms as Member of Parliament with that of the incumbent MP, who has also served two terms, and concluded that his tenure delivered greater development to the constituency.
Hon Stevens said the appeal has influenced his decision to abandon his earlier ambition for the regional First Vice Chairman position and prepare for the NPP parliamentary primaries scheduled for December.
He said he has several development initiatives and achievements from his previous tenure which he intends to build on if given another opportunity to represent the people of Jaman North.
Among the initiatives he cited was the regular distribution of rice to widows and elderly women during his tenure. He said the programme attracted criticism from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which accused him of using government resources for purposes that did not directly benefit the constituency.
Hon. Stevens, however, maintained that his administration also facilitated several development projects, including the construction of classroom blocks, the upgrading of AVOTECH and road construction projects aimed at improving education and infrastructure in the constituency.
He further criticised the performance of the incumbent Member of Parliament, accusing him of failing to adequately deliver on his responsibilities to the constituents.
Hon. Stevens also questioned the decision to collapse the existing market to pave the way for the construction of a new facility under the government’s 24-hour Economy Market project.
He described the move as an attempt to conceal what he called the incumbent MP’s shortcomings and said the decision was unfounded.
The former MP is expected to formally enter the NPP parliamentary contest in Jaman North ahead of the party’s December primaries.
SOURCE: www.ignewss.com