In a dramatic turn of events, Karl Mark Arhin, an independent candidate in the Amenfi Central parliamentary race, has withdrawn his candidacy to support the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate, Joana Gyan Cudjoe.
Arhin, whose name remains on the ballot, made the announcement during an NDC rally at Kyeikrom, attended by the party’s national chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah. Addressing NDC supporters, he clarified his decision:
“Today, I declare I am no longer part of the race. If you see my picture on the ballot, ignore it. All of us are now voting for Joana Gyan Cudjoe and John Mahama,” Arhin stated.
Explaining the situation, NDC Chairman Asiedu Nketiah revealed that Arhin’s initial filing as an independent candidate was a strategic move to safeguard the constituency’s representation in case Joana Gyan Cudjoe was disqualified due to legal challenges. With the court ruling in her favor, Arhin’s withdrawal reinforces the party’s unity.
“In our party, it’s unheard of for someone to run as an independent, but we made an exception this time. Our national executives decided to support Dr. Karl Mark Arhin’s independent candidacy due to the prolonged court processes. We believed the NPP was behind the delays, thinking that without Joana Gyan-Cudjoe, we wouldn’t have a candidate in the constituency, giving them an easy win for the first time since 1992.”
“To counter this, we strategically placed Dr. Arhin as a backup option to challenge the NPP. This decision wasn’t taken lightly, and we acknowledge it’s unconventional, but we didn’t see it as a crime. It was a deliberate move to ensure our party’s presence in the constituency.” He stated.
“Karl Arhin has not committed any wrongdoing. His actions were in support of the party, and we are grateful for his endorsement of Joana Gyan Cudjoe,” Asiedu Nketiah emphasized.
This unexpected development boosts the NDC’s prospects in the Amenfi Central constituency as the party heads into the parliamentary election.
