RDPP Supports NPP Candidate

THE REAL Democratic Patriots Party (RDPP), a breakaway political grouping from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has declared its support for a parliamentary candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). The National Coordinator of the RDPP, Raphael Cubagee, disclosed to DAILY GUIDE that the RDPP had thrown its weight behind the incumbent NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani West, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, who is seeking re-election. He noted that he had since directed all RDPP members and functionaries to campaign for Hon. Baffour-Awuah for him to secure a landslide victory, come December 7. Mr. Cubagee, a former NDC regional executive member in Brong Ahafo, fell out from the party about two years ago to form the RDPP, citing the perceived marginalization of individuals close to former President Rawlings by members of the Mills government. The party, which has its motto as �Together We Build, Together We Enjoy,� claims to be championing the Rawlings� ideologies. He however said the RDPP would marshal all resources available to the party to campaign against the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, who is contesting the incumbent MP for the seat. According to Mr. Cubagee, the RDPP would make sure that the regional minister did not realize his long dream of becoming an MP in the area, stating that the minister was not good to the people. He indicated that even if Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo was appointed the president of Ghana, and he came back to contest the Sunyani West seat, he would still lose simply because the people did not like him due to his poor human relations. The RDPP national coordinator further explained that Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo had not been able to use his position as a regional minister to bring any developmental project into the constituency. He accused the regional minister of involving himself in serious corruption following his inability to give proper accounts of the proceeds accrued from the BA@50 anniversary celebration, a matter which was still pending before parliament. Mr. Cubagee however commended the incumbent MP for bringing a lot of developmental projects into the constituency. He mentioned areas like the Fiapre market and lorry park which had been given a facelift by the MP, and other projects in the areas of health and education at Nsoatre, Chiraa, Odomase, among others. He disclosed that the RDPP was fielding parliamentary candidates at constituencies like Asunafo North, Asutifi South, Berekum, Jaman North and South, Wenchi and Tain. According to Mr. Cubagee, the RDPP, which would declare its presidential position in June, decided not to field in parliamentary candidates in other constituencies in the region because the party had a good rapport with the NDC candidates in those areas.