Amoateng's Seat Up For Grabs

Even though Parliament has not yet declared the Nkoranza North Constituency seat held by Eric Amoateng vacant, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress have already turned the area into a battle zone, with the NPP commandeering its District Chief Executives (DCEs)in the region into the constituency to intensify the underground work. As of Thursday May 25, all 17 DCEs and one Municipal Chief Executive (MCE)in the Brong Ahafo region had invaded the constituency in a combined effort to retain the seat

The seat is now lying fallow, after its occupant, Nana Eric Amoateng was busted in the United States of American alongside one Nii Okai Adjei for possessing drugs suspected to be heroin. Currently the MP is facing eight counts of drug related charges in a US law court of law.

The leading minority party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) is leaving no stone unturned, and has also after a fierce internal battle between a father and his son settled with the thirty-year old son, a medical director of the St Theresa?s Hospital at Nkoranza, Dr. Kofi Amoako-Gyanpah, whipping his father to emerge as the favoured candidate of the NDC.

The party was initially having it tough selecting a candidate as Mr. Hayford Amoako, the father of the selected candidate had declared his intention to contest for the seat.

Mr. Amoako, a Registrar at the University for Development Studies was beaten by Eric Amoateng in the 2004 polls, having occupied the seat for two consecutive terms. Dr. Amoako got the nod of the NDC scouts due mainly to his ability to wrestle the seat from the NPP, because of his service as a medical officer for the only hospital in the Nkoranza District. Reports reaching The Chronicle from the NPP camp reveal that currently four names are in circulation as who are most likely to upstage Dr. Amoako, and reliable sources have told the Chronicle that one Mr. Derrick Oduro, a sachet water manufacturer and an ex-Army Officer has just the right grassroot support and spirit to do the job.

DCEs who threw themselves into the intense battle preparations to fertilise the grounds included the Kintampo North and South, Nkoranza, Techiman Municipal, Wenchi, Atebubu, Pru, and Tain.

The rest were: Jaman North and South, Berekum, Dormaa, Tano North and South. The rest were: Asutifi, Asunafo North and South and Sene districts.

Also with the DCEs were the Regional Minister designate, Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah and some Regional Executives such as Nana Obiri Boahen, the B/A Regional chairman of the NPP, the Regional Organizer, master tactician Kofi Darko, the Regional Secretary, Mr. Kusi, Mr. Yaw Addae Owusu, the copted Financial Secretary, who is described as the chief planner of the electioneering campaign.

The NDC on the other hand is yet to take off in full flight, but their local team from the Nkoranza North and South and Techiman North and the fearsome Techiman South team are in the frontiers of the battle zone marshalling the constituency ground assault troops to Charge into battle proper as soon as the whistle goes.

At the time of filing this report, The Chronicle has gathered that the National NDC team led by Gyan Boateng, A deputy National Organizer of party was in the constituency with his men.

In an interview with NPP Regional chairman, Nana Obiri Boahen, he declared that there was nothing that could deprive the ruling NPP from maintaining the seat.

Another, executive of the party, Mr. Addae Owusu said, ?looking at things that the embattled MP had done for the people of the Nkoranza North, there is nothing that shows that the constituents would vote against an NPP candidate.

He noted that all their rounds showed that Nana Eric Amoateng, a former traditional ruler at Amoma in the Kintampo South District had embarked on vigorous developmental projects for the constituency.

The Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr. John Owusu Agyemang was of the view that his party would win the seat no matter what the NPP was distributing to the people.

According to him, the constituency needs a better replacement in parliament and they will never sell their conscience to any party for material wealth.