Many political pundits and social commentators have already tipped the 2017 Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, to be one that would showcase the country's popular personalities on both sides of the political divide.
Few weeks ago, the likes of Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the former ace broadcaster with Joy Fm, and Mr. George Andah, formerly of Mobile Telecommunication Network, (MTN) all stripped off their long suspected neutral clothes and declared their long nursed intentions to run for Parliament on the ticket of their party, the largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Followed suit were Mr. Abeiku Santana, a presenter with Okay Fm, an Accra based-radio station and Mr. Emmanuel Bonney , a Kumawood actor, also declared their intentions to contest on the ticket of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The Crystal clear Lens can authoritatively reveal without the slightest doubt that, one of the big intellectuals at the Flag Staff House, Dr Clement Apaak has laced his political boots to contest the Builsa South Constituency seat in the Upper West region on the ticket of the NDC.
The Builsa South Constituency seat which is currently held by Hon. Alhassan Azong of the People's National Convention (PNC), is one of the safe seats that has been held by the ruling NDC since 1992.
The seat was won by Norbert Garko Awullay of the NDC in 1992, he held onto it until Hon Abolimbisa Roger Akantagriwen of same NDC took over in 2004. Hon. Alhassan Azong took over the seat in the 2008 and 2012 elections.
It is believed that the same NDC party assisted the PNC man who has been on the side of the party since his elections into parliament to hold onto the seat until today and the party has now withdrawn its support and throwing it behind Dr Apaak.
The Simon Faser University product, Dr Apaak, contesting the seat on the ticket of the NDC according to our information, was not borne by his own desires to enter the Ghana's parliament but he had to succumbed to numerous request from his constituencies and some topmost men in the constituency who believed he has a lot to offer to the Ghana's second most powerful political institutions.
This means that, Dr Apaak, known as 'the man of many strict principles' will be smiling to parliament when he seals through the NDC primaries which many are confident it will be cool choke for him.
When The Crystal Clear Lens news team visited the area to confirm the rumours of literally electing the former boss of Forum for Justice and Governance (FJG) ahead of the 2016 elections, some of the residents said they have found in him a man who can help reform the under fired parliament of Ghana and will also help spearhead developmental projects in the area.
They noted that when some politicians always only come to tell them to vote for them to help the constituency and the people, Dr Apaak long before he nursed the ambition of becoming politician has always offer various kinds of help to area.
"He does not discriminate when offering assistance to us. He does not care about one's political affiliation. He has always helped us and the constituency in terms of development and we think he will do more when given the opportunity", one of the key opinion leaders in the area who wants to remain unknown told the paper.
For the youth in the constituency, Dr Apaak has been an inspiration to them and accepting to represent them was good news to them and therefore pledged to leave no stone unturned to make sure he represents the constituency in the next parliament of Ghana.
According to the youth, aside of him being inspirational to them, he has also created employment opportunities for many of them. This, they say, is a mark of a good leader and he will do more for them when he finally gets to Parliament.
When Dr Clement Apaak was contacted to confirm or deny the position of his people, he declined to comment, stating that at the appropriate time, he will make his intentions known to the members of the Constituency.
He, however, admitted that pressure is being mounted on him by the youth to contest the 2016 parliamentary race on the ticket of the NDC.
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