Ghana: Osei-Wusu Goes Independent
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Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)
5 September 2008
Posted to the web 5 September 2008
The former DVLA boss, Mr. Joseph Osei-Wusu, fearing that the NPP would lose the Amansie East seat, has acted to save the constituency from falling into the hands of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) or any independent candidate in the December elections.
He has, at long last, succumbed to pressure from chiefs, constituents and his supporters and resigned his position as the Chief Executive Officer of DVLA, effective August 31, 2008, to contest the seat as an Independent candidate. On Friday August 29, 2008, Osei-Wusu heralded his campaign with the pasting of posters amid jubilation and fan fare as drivers freely joined in the exercise.
"Our saviour has come". the people chanted as they joyously went about the pasting of posters on their cars, buildings and at vantage points. Pasting the over 10,000 copies of posters was not a problem for the campaign team as constituents from all over the 88 constituents, voluntarily rushed to the constituency headquarters to take copies of the posters for pasting in their electoral areas.
Last Wednesday, the aspirant joined 'nananom' of the Bekwai Traditional Council to observe Awukudae, during which he announced his intention to run as an independent candidate to provide a new leadership to champion the aspirations of the people, particularly the youth. He said his quest is to bring change to the political landscape in the constituency.
He also indicated that his decision followed the apathy of the party to address his concerns in a petition to the National executives in May this year, and said even though he might lose his membership with the NPP as a result, the decision was prudent and justified in order to safeguard the seat from going to the opposition and save the much needed votes for the NPP's Presidential candidate, since the constituents were contemplating voting "Skirt and Blouse" in the elections.
The former DVLA boss, who has since started a tour of the 88 communities of the constituency, is targeting 90% of votes for himself and the Presidency. His foot soldiers were on the ground to make sure eligible voters registered during the just ended voters' registration exercise.
The defeated aspirant in the May 10, 2008, Kokofu NPP primary has been meeting with polling station chairmen in the Amansie East constituency and urging them not to relent in their efforts to campaign for the NPP in the Presidential elections in order to retain the presidency and the party in power.
Osei-Wusu stressed the need to intensify their campaign and make sure NPP scores 90 plus percent of the votes in the constituency to ensure 80% win in Ashanti region.
According to Osei-Wusu, the set targets would ensure total victory for the NPP and give the party a safe berth at the December elections.
Osei-Wusu also assured the people that they can always count on him for the development of the area.
Outlining his vision for the constituency, during the launch of his campaign in March this year, Osei-Wusu expressed concern about the fallen standard of education and promised to remedy the situation through support schemes to help upgrade the teaching skills of teachers in the area.
His other priority areas were mentioned as agriculture, under which loans would be secured for farmers and medium and small scale operators to expand their ventures.
The aspirant intends to establish a processing plant to take care of farm produce by the farmers in the area to avoid post harvest losses.
Besides, Osei-Wusu, said he would also give priority to creating job opportunities for the youth in the area and create investment avenues and employment opportunities.
Osei-Wusu, 46, said with the release of about GH¢400,000 as the District Assembly Common Fund for the district every year, much more could be done in terms of development, than what was pertaining currently.
The aspirant, who is a lawyer by profession, has assured that he would inject new ideas in the body politic of the constituency.
He said, by this decision to contest the seat, he wanted to reciprocate what society had given him by way of his education to the locality. Osei-Wusu said since a good name is better than riches, he would rather want to serve and leave his mark in the community that contributed in moulding his life.
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According to him, he had over the years taken steps to achieve his aspiration to lead his people in government. The aspirant assured that he would use his "connections" to ensure that the constituency gets its fair share of the national cake. "Politics is about networking and I would capitalize on my connections to bring about the needed development", he told The Chronicle in an interview.
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