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As the opposition New Patriotic Party’s Parliamentary polls draws near, campaigns have intensified, especially for the Suame Constituency seat in the Ashanti Region.

The incumbent who is the Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu is being fiercely challenged by two aspirants, John Darko and Mr. Kwadwo Boateng Genfi, though in previous contests, he had run unopposed.

The battle for who represents the Suame constituents in Parliament reached its zenith when the incumbent reportedly referred to himself as Lionel Messi and his closest challenger, Boateng-Genfi as Don Botey in football circles; and suggested there was no need for a player with such dexterity (Messi) to make way for a local-based star (Botey) in a grudge match.

Speaking on Okay Fm’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Genfi felt insulted by the analogy, and wondered what, after 20 years in parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah can show for as his contribution in both parliamentary discourse and for the Suame constituents.

“Where did he earn his experience when he first contested the seat in 1996? Where was he when young men like Asamoah Boateng were made ministers in Kufuor’s administration? If he is talking about experience then NPP should go for J.H Mensah; Yaw Osafo-Mafo and others who relinguished their seats in Parliament….some are still in parliament due to their selfish interest; they want to die in parliament”, he stated.

“…what kind of experience does he have? The other side of Parliament (Majority) have changed their leadership several times but Osei Kyei-Mensah does not want to allow change...only he knows what he wants in Parliament.... He even bluntly told me to the face that the contest is not about beauty but about intelligence and wisdom; his choice of words does not help promote decent campaign…we must always think of putting the party first and he should lay aside his egocentrism,” he fumed.

Reacting to the accusation on the same platform, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu debunked the allegations leveled against him by his opponent. He however admitted to having endorsed the statement that the Suame contest is about substituting Messi for Don Bortey, albeit lightheartedly.

On the issue of "experience and intelligence" allegation, he indicated that it was in response to Mr Boateng Genfi’s earlier remark that 'the contest for the Suame seat was just between the two of them and he [Genfi] has the financial resources' to run against him [Osei Kyei-Mensah].

“I told him that running for a Parliamentary seat is not about who has money but it is rather about how knowledgeable and intelligent one is....plus the wisdom one is endowed with, but he apparently he felt insulted by my words…he is rather hurling abusive words at me on radio and on any given campaign platform he gets,” the Minority Leader explained.