Elect candidates with credibility or risk voter apathy - Rawlings

Former President Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings has urged members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in various constituencies to vote out Members of Parliament who have become a liability to their communities or risk voter apathy during the national elections.

In the run-up to the NDC parliamentary primaries scheduled for November 21, 2015, Flt Lt Rawlings said electing personalities with credibility would help to restore hope.

The former president made the call recently when Captain Paapa Asuako-Owiredu, a former captain of the Black Star Line and aspiring Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya in the Central Region, called on him accompanied by some opinion leaders and party sympathisers to formally inform him of his candidature.

He expressed concern that “some of the undesirable liabilities are as usual using cloth, money and other items to bribe the most vulnerable communities in some constituencies.”

Capt. Asuako-Owiredu said he had heeded the call to contest the parliamentary seat because members of his constituency were concerned that they were missing out on various development opportunities.

Other members of the delegation, including sub-chiefs Nenyi Kwamena Mortey VI and Nenyi Kojo Omano I, took turns to enumerate issues affecting the development of the Awutu Senya Constituency.

Nenyi Kojo Omano described some of the incumbents contesting the primaries as selfish and disrespectful characters arrogantly boasting that they would pay for their votes, as if votes were a purchasable commodity.

Credit: Graphiconline