By Ernest Nutsugah
Accra, Nov. 23, GNA – Mr. Remy Paa Kow Edmundson, the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Parliamentary candidate for Dome-Kwabenya Constituency, is confident about making a surprising impact in the upcoming December election.
This is his first time running for office, competing against prominent candidates including Mr. Mike Ocquaye Jnr of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ms. Elikplim Akurugu of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and Ms. Dora Nyarko of the People’s National Convention (PNC).
Despite the constituency being considered a stronghold for the NPP, Mr. Edmundson said he could compete effectively with the other candidates.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a dialogue for parliamentary candidates organized by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the PPP candidate outlined his key priorities, including addressing infrastructure, education, and employment issues in the area.
Although other candidates were absent from the dialogue, Mr. Edmundson shared his vision, which includes advocating for a constitutional amendment to allow for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
Like other advocates, he argued that the current structure of appointing MMDCEs was “affecting development” at the local level.
“For me, this is one of the challenges affecting progress in this country. We need to elect MMDCEs so we can hold them accountable…
“As a Parliamentary candidate, I am going around telling people about my vision and we should do same for MMDCES so that if we vote for them and they do not perform the way we want it, they will be voted out,” he said.
Mr. Edmundson, a business consultant, recognized the strong presence of the two dominant political parties in Dome-Kwabenya but expressed his determination to make a significant impact in the December 7 elections.
“The NDC and the NPP have better structures in place in this constituency than my party the PPP but since I made the decision to contest, we have also been working and the good thing is that many voters are fed up with the duopoly and are willing to give a third party a chance.
“The only hindrance is the resource to reach the people to let them know I have very good policies for them if they vote for me…
“But that notwithstanding, we are sure we can reach most of the people before the election, and we are very much [hopeful] we will pull a surprise,” he stated.
Mr. Edmundson, also the National Secretary of the PPP, emphasized his plans to support local businesses and tap into the constituency’s tourism potential.
He also aims to empower local resident associations and establish a centre offering free legal services to community members facing urgent issues.
The PPP parliamentary candidate encouraged citizens to remain engaged in the activities of their parliamentary representatives, stressing the importance of active participation beyond just voting.
“Electorate should not just vote for MPs because they are from their party; they need to examine what the candidate can do for them…Most importantly, they need to ensure that the MPs are doing the work for which they were sent to Parliament,” he added.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Patrick Obey Mensah, educated voters on dos and don’ts on Election Day, and urged parties and citizens to abide by the rules.
GNA