Many NPP sympathizers declared intention to contest Atiwa by-election
Ever since the Electoral Commission (EC), announced August 31, 2010, as the date for the Atiwa by-election, many New Patriotic Party (NPP), sympathizers have declared their intentions to contest the vacant seat.
The latest person to join the race is the Presiding Member of the Atiwa District Assembly, Mr Kwasi Amoako Attah.
Mr Amoako-Attah who has been a party member since its formation in 1992, made the declaration in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Anyinam on Wednesday.
Other names which have come out include Nana Asante Bediatuo, a sub-chief of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area and a legal practitioner, and Mr Kwasi Osei, former District Chief Executive for Atiwa District Assembly.
A recent visit to the constituency by newsmen recently indicated that among the names which had come out, Mr Amoako-Attah stands tall.
Mr Amoako-Attah, a lawyer by profession, is a product of the University of Ghana, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the same university.
The presiding member, who is currently the Head of Legal Department of Vlisco Group of Companies in Ghana, is a member of the Ghana Bar Association since 2002 and a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana.
Mr Amoako-Attah told journalists that when given the nod to lead the party in the by-election, he would win convincingly to prove the party’s superiority over the other parties in the constituency.
He said since he became the Presiding Member for the district assembly, he had never taken any sitting allowance in all the eight years, which showed his commitment and dedication to the area.
Mr Amoako-Attah said he wanted to use the experiences he had acquired to ensure that the area got its fair share of the national cake and therefore appealed to the electorate to consider him.
He said he stood for peace and unity, and that was why after losing two conservative primaries he remained loyal to the party, and supported its activities both at the constituency, regional and national levels.
Mr Amoako-Attah said the track record of the NPP administration in terns of development projects to the area, could not be overemphasized and therefore appealed to the rank and file of the party, to bury their differences and come together as one people with a common destiny to win the seat.
The Atiwa seat became vacant after the death of its Member of Parliament, Mr Kwasi Annor Ankamah in London recently after a protracted illness.
Atiwa is one constituency in the Eastern Region, which has remained loyal to the NPP since 1992, winning every election.
In the 2008 elections, the NPP polled 24,423 to defeat the NDC candidate, who got 7,851, with PNC getting 296.
Source: GNA