The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Constituency in the Eastern Region, Honorable Thomas Ampem Nyarko has criticised his opponent, Pius Hadzide, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for engaging in an act of tribalism.
The opposition party legislator in a statement accused the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority of resorting to dangerous tribal politics to bolster his chances in the upcoming elections.
He thus condemned what he perceives as a divisive tactic and political tool deliberately deployed by the New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for the Asuogyaman Constituency, Mr Hadzide to cause public disaffection to him.
“Seeing that defeat is staring him in the face due to my enviable track record of development, excellent human relations, and love for the people of Asuogyaman, Pius has resorted to divisive tactics including tribal bigotry. All such attempts have failed and will continue to fail”.
Honorable Thomas Ampem Nyarko, MP for Asuogyaman Constituency
Bussing Non-Residennts to Participate in Registration Exercise
The Asuogyaman Member of Parliament in recounting the event that led to Mr Hadzide’s accusation against him, accused Mr Hadzide of bussing non-residents to register in the ongoing limited voters registration exercise in the constituency.
He noted that the incident happened during the commencement of the ongoing limited voter registration exercise by the Electoral Commission, where Mr Hadzide allegedly facilitated the bussing of individuals from Afife and other communities to a residence in Akosombo with the intention of facilitating their illegal registration to vote in the Asuogyaman Constituency.
Honorable Ampen Nyarko further indicated that the suspicious activities prompted local residents to raise alarm, leading to the intervention of law enforcement agencies.
Commenting on the action he took in addressing the incident, Honorable Nyarko stated that he only emphasized his support for upholding the law, stating that as a Member of Parliament and a law-abiding citizen, he does not find anything wrong with citizens raising alarm about an act of illegality.
He also clarified that the resistance exhibited by some of the residents in the Asuogyaman Constituency, most of whom are Ewes, against the attempted voter registration of non-residents should not be misconstrued as tribal animosity.
Dispelling perceived notion of ethnic bias, Honorable Nyarko reiterated his deep-seated bond with the Ewe community in his constituency, highlighting his extensive efforts towards their welfare.
He emphasized that what he has done in most of the Ewe communities in particular would transcend beyond what the New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate could dream of doing for such communities.
He criticised Mr Hadzide for failing to provide any form of substantial assistance and developmental projects to the residents of the Asuogyaman Constituency despite having opportunity to serve as a Deputy Minister and the Chief Executive Officer in the past seven years under the New Patriotic Party administration.
The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for the Asuogyman Constituency concluded by urging the people of Asuogyaman to remain steadfast and united, admonishing them to reject what he described as the “barefaced lies” of the NPP Parliamentary Candidate, Pius Hadzide.
He underscored the need for his constituents to choose experienced leadership over experimented leadership, emphasizing that the Asuogyaman Constituency must move forward with his leadership and not backward with the New Patriotic Party candidate, Pius Hadzide.
In an earlier statement, Pius Hadzide, the New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for the Asuogyaman Constituency condemned the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for the area over alleged derogatory remarks he made against Ewes in the constituency.
He accused Honorable Thomas Ampem Nyarko of ingratitude towards the community that had previously supported him.
Mr Hadzide also alleged that the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament has been playing on tribal lines to gain support among Ewe communities in previous elections.
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