Former National Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Yaw Boateng Gyan believes the party’s former Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, E. T Mensah is contesting for the Council of State election out of bitterness.
According to him, it is important that the astute and veteran politician exercises restraint in vying for such a position lest he loses the respect he’s earned in politics over the years.
Hon. E.T Mensah has joined the race to be elected as the Greater Accra representative of the Council of State.
The elections are scheduled to be held on Thursday, February 16.
A notice of poll published by the Electoral Commission, confirms Mr. E.T Mensah’s participation in the election. The former Sports Minister’s picture appears fourth on the right column.
The regional elections was originally scheduled to be held on Thursday, February 9, but the EC had to postpone it to allow the municipal, metropolitan and district assemblies prepare adequately for the exercise.
The Council of State consists of one representative from each region of Ghana, elected in accordance with regulations made by the EC under article 51 of Ghana’s constitution by an electoral college comprising two representatives from each of the districts in the region, nominated by the District Assemblies in the region, and eleven other members appointed by the President.
His inclusion in the Council of State election has come as a surprise to a section of the public as E.T Mensah is known to be a dyed in the wool NDC member.
Others believe E.T Mensah who has been in Parliament since 1997 until January 7, 2017, is doing this to spite the NDC after he was defeated by his one time protege, Sam George Nettey in a bitter contest during the party’s Parliamentary primaries.
Speaking on the matter on Asempa FM’s Eko Sii Sen show Tuesday, Yaw Boateng Gyan stated clearly he was against Hon. E.T Mensah a staunch NDC member wanting to become a council of state member to advise President Akufo Addo.
“He should be patient in his political endeavours going into the future, he shouldn’t have tried going for the Council of State job out of resentment. I must confess I’m not happy with his decision. What sort of advise will E.T Mensah give to the President if he’s elected, because he doesn’t share the same ideology with the President. He’s been a leading member of the NDC since its formation, and has been around since the days of the revolution until he lost the parliamentary primaries last year. If he doesn’t take care people will read all sorts of meanings into this decision he has taken. Is he going to help Akufo Addo to succeed so the NDC doesn’t come back to power?. For me, even if President Akufo Addo invites me to serve in his government in any capacity, I will reject the offer, because our political ideologies are poles apart.”
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