By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Some members of the Suhum branch of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), as well as national executives, have been taken aback by the public announcement made by their incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Kwadwo Asante, popularly known as Boafo, to contest the 2024 Parliamentary elections as an independent candidate.
Mr. Asante declared his candidacy as an independent candidate for the December 7 polls on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at Suhum Amponsah Market.
Boafo’s public pronouncement to contest as an independent candidate ends months of political speculation.
The incumbent NPP MP contested the party’s parliamentary primary but lost to one Frank Asiedu Bekoe, also known as Protozoa, who works at the Jubilee House.
Mr Asante, who believes he wasn’t treated well by the executives of the party, which led to his defeat, has been contemplating going solo without heeding the calls by many top party officials, including Vice President and the party’s 2024 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and Agriculture Minister and MP for Abetifi constituency in the Eastern Region, Mr. Bryan Acheampong.
Addressing a large gathering of supporters after a health walk at the Suhum Amponsah Market to begin his campaign, the incumbent MP (Boafo) explained that his decision to contest the 2024 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate was to heed to the numerous calls from his constituents to continue his developmental work in the area.
According to him, although some top party officials, including Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong, attempted to persuade him to rescind his decision, he cannot go against the cry of his constituents to still represent them in the next parliament.
“I have taken this painful and difficult decision to contest as an independent parliamentary candidate in the upcoming elections because I cannot turn my back on the very people who gave me the opportunity and their mandate to represent them in the 8th Parliament.
And for that singular honour done me, I am ever ready to serve their interests against any other interests,” he reiterated.
Mr. Asante has therefore called on his supporters to do a clean campaign so as to ensure that there is peace and unity after the 2024 general elections.
