Politics of Thursday, 20 February 2020
Source: Kwesi Owusu-Ansah, Contributor
2020-02-20
Carlos Ahenkorah dares his competitors
The battle to select a candidate to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2020 election in the Tema West constituency is getting more hotter as incumbent MP, Mr. Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah dares his competitors.
The Tema west constituency’s “darling boy”, Mr. Carlos Ahenkorah, who submitted his nomination forms on Wednesday 19, 2020, threw a challenge to his competitors that, ” I’m the heartbeat of the Tema west constituency delegates and I’m ready to faceoff with whoever is ready to battle with me, in fact, I’m promising them nothing but shameful defeat”
The first- term MP, Mr. Ahenkorah who is confident of victory in the upcoming primaries said, the December 2020 general election requires competent and a record holder candidate to widen the historic defeat records of the NDC in the Tema west Constituency both Parliamentary and presidential.
Its no secret that the Tema west constituency parliamentary seat is a pro- New Patriotic Party (NPP) seat. The NPP has comfortably maintained the seat since 1996 till date.
Undoubtedly, whoever emerges victorious at the constituency primaries eventually becomes the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency.
Mr. Ahenkorah who is the first candidate to filed his form is likely to face a tough competition with one of his former campaign managers Mr. Kwesi Poku Bosompem, who was very instrumental player in kicking out the former MP, Mrs. Naa Tosrhie Addo. Another low key contender Mr. Amuzua, is yet to submit his form to join the race.
Picking and filing of nomination forms
Hundreds of NPP delegates and supporters in the Tema west constituency thrown their support behind the incumbent MP who is also the deputy minister for trade and industry as the parliamentary candidate of the party for the 2020 polls.
To demonstrate their resolve for his candidature, the delegates who regards Mr. Carlos Ahenkorah as a “darling boy” in the constituency purchased and picked the nomination forms and presented to him at the party’s office in Sakumono.
Mr. Ahenkorah’s form was received by the party’s constituency chairman, Mr. Nana Boakye Sefa.
Nana Boakye who is the chairman for the Tema west constituency urged Mr. Ahenkorah to whip his follows in line, guide them from engaging in insult campaign. “Any act of insult from your followers to opponents will attract sanctions, I entreat you and your followers to do issues base campaign to market our great party well going into the 2020 polls”
Speaking to the media after submitting his form, Mr. Ahenkorah was optimistic that, in his quest to seek a secord term as a member of of parliament, “its is my unwavering conviction that the delegates of Tema west will honour me with an overwhelming endorsement, as a matter of fact, they are witnesses to the great job that I have done with them over the last three years”.
The first term MP again stated that, for the party to record another resounding victory in the 2020 general elections unity must remain in the constituency. “When we remain united, there is a lot we can achieve together, I implore that we all get on- board and contribute our quota in making our constituency great”.
Mr. Ahenkorah was grateful to the delegates. “Its is with a very humble heart that I expressed my utmost gratitude to all the dutiful delegates of Tema west for coming today to support me as I sought the opportunity to represent them as the member of parliament. I thank them for all the support they have given me all these years without which we could not have come this far”.
Achievements and new promises
Mr. Ahenkorah revealed that over the last three (3) under the NPP government, Tema west constituency has been fortunate to witness unprecedented developmental projects across the constituency. “Under education, we have seen the construction of several educational facilities in the communities within the constituency.
“I have established a computer lab for Holy Child JHS Sakumono Estate with (20 computers, a Language Center that includes an ICT center for the Tema Secondary School. (TEMASCO), I presented the Sakumono Village JHS with 100 dual desk and 1000 exercise books, 1000 dual desk to 20 other Public schools in the constituency, again i organize vacation classes for all public schools during the long vacation and for the first time organized mock exams for form 3 students in all public schools in the Constituency” Mr. Ahenkorah stated.
The Tema west MP again noted that, he organized a refresher course for all JHS teachers (300) (Dubbed: The Teacher Matter) in the constituency, presented over 1000 school uniforms students in the Tema West schools. I have completed 3 dinning halls in my quest to build one for each public school in the constituency (check old lashibi, sakumono village and comm 5 number 3) in my one Public school one canteen project”. Vision 1 Paemuka can report.
Under health, the Tema west MP noted, “I have donated hospital equipments including incubators and beds to the Tema General Hospital and Polyclinic, built a brand new medical incinerator for the Tema Polyclinic to help disposal of their medical waste, replaced equipments like weighing scales, glucose meters etc in all weighing centres ( Early Childhood Medical Center) in Tema West, donated doctors and nurses apparels including theater clothes, wheel chairs, surgical gloves etc to the polyclinic”.
Touching on roads, Mr. Ahenkorah stressed that, there have been several infrastructure developments in the constituency. For instance, “several roads in the constituency completed with many others are at different stages of completion”.
“I got the road from Aragon to the Klagon bridge to water works fixed pending the completion of the bridge itself, got the abattoir bridge which had been washed away for 7 years reconstructed through leadership by mobilising companies around to contribute and part of 2, 3, 5, 17 roads fixed” Carlos Ahenkorah added.
Job creation, youth and women empowerment
Mr. Ahenkorah revealed that, he has fixed more than 250 youths with jobs, presented Gh¢ 200,000 as micro finance (interest free) loans to all polling stations executives under the 20 electoral area coordinators including Nasara to help improve and build up their business, presented Gh¢ 20,000 to the fish mongers Association at Sakumono village as interest free loans to help Improve their business.
“I have also trained over 300 women in the constituency in Soap making (Liquid and Bar), Yogurt, beads and tie and die making with a start up capital to help empower them, currently training 150 Youth across the Constituency in various Vacation skills to help them start their own businesses in (Dress Making, electronic and Electrical works, Auto Mechanical works, Auto Body works and spraying etc), empowering women through providing raw materials like, bags of maize, rice, charcoal, cassava dough indomie, etc for their business as capital to progress further” The MP added.
2020 general elections
The Tema west “darling boy”, Carlos predicted a massive victory for President Nana Akufo-Addo in the December Presidential election.
“If you look at the huge things that this President has achieved in just one term and the grand way that he came into power in 2016, it is clear that he is here for a purpose and that purpose is from fate itself. I don’t think that now that he has started achieving the purpose fate will abandon him now,” Carlos Ahenkorah said.
“Even the air is pregnant with the smell of Akufo-Addo’s repeat mega victory.
“Free SHS, One Village One Dam, Planting for Food and Jobs, One District, One Factory, Ambulances, roads…who can beat that?
Mini rally
The MP who is seeking a second term parliamentary bid said, Nana Addo’s first first term as a president under the NPP administration have transformed Ghana to a greater height than any regime both in the Constituency and the nation as a whole and urged delegates to consider his track record whilst making their decision in the upcoming primaries.
Mr. Ahenkorah ended by quoting the former general secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie popularly known as Sir John “even though yes sir John has said fear delegates, this particular delegates I don’t fear them”.