Ex-convict Mallam Issah in Adenta NDC race

A former Sports Minister under the New Patriotic Party’s administration who was jailed for misplacing $46,000 as Sports Minister has picked nomination forms to contest the Adenta constituency seat on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mallam Issah, as he is popularly known, indicated that he had been contacted as far back as 2012 to contest the seat by some NDC faithfuls but declined because he “was not ready and wanted to talk to the party executives before taking the decision.”

“I have picked a form to contest the NDC parliamentary primaries and I have been in Adenta for many years,” Mallam Issah told Accra-based Joy FM.

“We are not seeing any development. Before Nii Ashie Moore was given the opportunity I was contacted but I told them I wasn’t ready. I joined the NDC in 2003.”

A true member of the People’s National Convention (PNC), he was co-opted into the NPP administration but became popular in 2001 for failing to account for the winning bonus. He was, however, granted a presidential pardon in July 2003 due to poor health.

Commenting on his conviction, he said “My case was not what happened and so I did wide consultation before taking the decision… This case was a ploy to push the NPP’s agenda in their zero tolerance for corruption so they needed a scapegoat.”

He further indicated that this was not his first time running for a parliamentary contest. “I tested the ground in Bawku West and I just wanted to know how the reception would be but after consultation I had to leave it for the incumbent Cletus Avorka.

“I was reminded that we were a big family so I had to leave it for him to contest and supported him and he won.”