Tension is brewing in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Afram Plains South Constituency of the Eastern Region over accusation of ‘skirt’ and ‘blouse’.
The former Member of Parliament for the area, Joseph Appiah Boateng who has declared his intention to stage a comeback is being accused of masterminding a ‘skirt’ and ‘blouse’ vote in the 2016 Parliamentary election after he was forced to step down over multiple suits challenging his eligibility over claims of dual citizenship and other fraudulent allegations.
A member of the NDC constituency communication team, Dzekunini Augustine, in an interview on a local radio station divulged facts which cast slur on the former MP as the mastermind behind the 2016 ‘skirt’ and ‘blouse’ campaign which affected the party’s votes in the Parliamentary election, therefore, argued per the constitution of the party the former MP is not qualified to recontest the Parliamentary primaries.
The Former MP unhappy about the allegation allegedly stormed the house of the Communication member who was in a bathroom in an attempt to physically assault him but managed to escape with a piece of towel around his waist with foams of soap on his body.
The victim, subsequently, lodged an official complaint at the Tease Police station.
The former MP, though, admitted going to the house of the complainant parried claims he assaulted him. According to him, he went to the communication member’s house to inquire from him why he incessantly levels frivolous allegations against him on radio.
However, some traditional rulers in the community have intervened to resolve the matter amicably.
The Afram Plains South constituency primaries of the NDC is anticipated to be keenly contested by the Former MP, Joseph Appiah Boateng and Mark Oliver Kevor, the Eastern Regional Secretary of the NDC who will slug it out with the incumbent MP, Eric Osei Owusu who will seek re-election for the second term.
The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia in a last minute decision to withdraw the candidature of the former MP, Joseph Appiah assigned reason that “We’ve gone for documents from Interpol bearing the photos of our sitting MP, Joseph Appiah Boateng which indicates that Interpol wants him arrested for crimes he committed in Australia and New Zealand.
“NDC is not a party of thieves. So, just as there’s a fight against thieves and criminals in Ghana, we NDC also will expose any thief in our midst. We will not shield a thief to represent us in Parliament. The report from Interpol made it impossible for Joseph Appiah Boateng to file his nomination for the December 7 Parliamentary election.”
Asiedu Nketia further said: “In the Interpol report, it is stated that the MP was arrested in New Zealand, furthermore he’s changed his names more than six times, and all the names he’s used before are in that report. Where ever he is now if I were him I would have remained quiet and pray that no one takes me on for entering Parliament illegally.”
Though the former MP is said to have been cleared of criminal charges against him, his credibility is being doubted by many supporters of the party who want him to stay away from the contest.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
