NDC gears up for battle in Cape Coast
The Cape Coast North and South constituencies of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are gearing up for some uncompromising battles in the run-up to their parliamentary primaries slated for November 7, this year.
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So far, four candidates, namely Messrs Kobby Acheampong, a former Deputy Minister of the Interior, Anthony Egyir Aikins, a former Cape Coast Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Justice Boison, a retired footballer and businessman, and one Charles Kojo Walker, have declared their intent to contest the Cape Coast North slot.
The Member of Parliament ( MP) for Cape Coast South Constituency and a Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Kweku Ricketts Hagan is ,however, being contested by a 36-year-old banker, Thomas Hughes Amissah, for the other ticket.
With the declaration by the current MP for Cape Coast North, Mr Ebo Barton Odro, not to contest the seat anymore, many NDC stalwarts in the municipality believe it is the time for them to test the waters and possibly take the baton from the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Mr Hughes Amissah‘s ambition to wrest the ticket from the incumbent is seen as a herculean task but the young banker is confident and ready to battle it out with Mr Ricketts Hagan.
Like other aspiring candidates, Mr Hughes Amissah has started his campaign in earnest and is expected to file his nomination by close of this month as scheduled by the party.
Cape Coast Constituency
The Cape Coast Constituency has since 1996 been the preserve of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), with Madam Christine Churcher being a mouthful for Mr Barton Odro.
The tables, however, turned when the constituency was split into north and south for the 2012 elections.
Mr Barton Odro won the primary and contested on the ticket of the NDC for the Cape Coast North Constituency and won by 21,189 votes as against 19, 558 by Dr Mrs Henrietta Abaane of the NPP.
Mr Ricketts Hagan, on the other hand, contested against the NPP’s Alfred Eugene Thompson and won by 22,150 votes to 19, 206.
Hughes Amissah
Sharing his vision with the Daily Graphic, Mr Hughes Amissah said his motivation to contest the primary was guided by the difficulties confronting the people of the area and more important, the youth who, he said, kept losing hope by the day.
" There is hope in the NDC for the youth. The idea that nobody can turn Cape Coast around is false," he said, and added that the Cape Coast South Constituency accommodated a lot of schools and so he was going to take advantage of that opportunity.
He mentioned some of the schools located within the constituency as the Adisadel College, the Holy Child School, the St Augustine's College and the OLA College of Education and said he would liaise with the school authorities if he won, to institute mechanisms to grant 10 scholarships each to students from the area every year.
In addition, he said he would make aqua culture a priority and support interested individuals to breed tilapia, which has an increased demand in the metropolis.
"The old post office building in Cape Coast, which had been left to rot, could also be put to good use by turning it into a hotel or a clinic for the aged," he stated.
On how he intended to undertake such capital intensive projects, the Cape Coast South MP aspirant, who is the son of Madam Araba Tagoe, the Western Region women's Organiser of the NDC, said he was in touch with some investors who are ready and willing to support his dream.
Thomas Hughes Amissah has decided to contest the Cape Coast South seat with the incumbent Kweku Ricketts Hagan
PANAFEST
Commenting on the organisation of the Pan African Festival of Arts and Culture (PANAFEST) for instance, Mr Hughes Amissah called for a rebranding of the festival and make it a Central Region affair, with Cape Coast hosting a chunk of the events.
This, he explained, would enhance the organisation, patronage and sustainability of the programme.
Mr Hughes Amissah also stressed his resolve to support stakeholders in football to capitalise on the completion of the new Cape Coast stadium and set up football academy to engage some of the youth to unearth and develop their talents.
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