Some residents of the Klottey Korle Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, have called on the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC), incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Nii Armah Ashietey, to bury the hatchet and give the party’s parliamentary nominee, Dr. Zanetor Rawlings, a breathing space.
According to them, the persistence of Mr. Ashietey in the suit against Dr. Zanetor Rawlings, will backfire, hence the need for him for discontinue the case.
They further claimed that even if Mr. Ashietey wins the court case, they would still vote against him in the November polls, since he has little to show for developmental projects in the constituency.
Nii Armah Ashietey has been in court challenging the eligibility of the NDC elected parliamentary nominee for the constituency, Dr. Zanetor Rawlings.
According to him, Zanetor Rawlings is not a registered voter and thus her election must be declared null and void.
In April 2016 however, Zanetor registered when the Electoral Commission opened the register for new voters in its limited registration exercise.
Mr. Ashietey on Tuesday June 7, filed an application for judicial review of the Supreme Court’s ruling stopping the hearing of his case at the High Court.
But speaking to Citi News, some of the residents described the back and forth case as unnecessary.
“Nii Armah Ashietey should forget about everything if he’s really a competent man. If Nii Armah Ashietey is contesting with a stone, we will vote for the stone and leave Nii Armah Ashietey there. The best thing to do is that, Nii Armah Ashietey must leave Zenator alone because what he’s doing can affect the NDC party.”
He further called on elders in the NDC to intervene since “the NPP will take advantage of” the situation.
Another resident told Citi News that “we don’t like Nii Armah Ashietey because he didn’t help us, we need Zanetor, we don’t like Nii Armah Ashietey,” he stated.
A female resident told Citi News that “Nii Armah Ashietey has failed us several times. He has done nothing in the constituency. Our madam wants to make this place neat for us but because of the court she is delaying. Last Saturday, our madam entered the gutter to take part in a cleanup exercise; Nii Armah Ashietey cannot do it. What he knows how to do is to share money or give out GHc 10 for us to embark on health walk. Our madam doesn’t give us any money but we are loyal to her,” she added.
Another resident said although Mr. Ashietey has the right to go to court, “he should understand that sometime back, he also defeated someone so he should also throw in the towel.”
“The woman has to take the seat because we love her and we want her to come and stand for us. She has not won but we like what she is doing. Nii Armah Ashietey has to forget about the seat,” a resident stated.
I’m in court in the interest of NDC
But Nii Ashietey had in an earlier interview, insisted that his legal action is to save the NDC from future troubles.
“If I see something go wrong, I have a duty to ensure that corrections are made and for me, I don’t think I can let it go…“All that I’m saying is that, I have the conviction that I have to go to court for my interest and for the interest of the people of Klottey Korle Constituency. So it’s not just about Nii Armah Ashitey, it’s also about the constituency,” he added.
