[ 2012-05-03 ]

Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Joe Osei-Wusu

Independent Bekwai MP to contest on NPP ticket?
Independent Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Joe
Osei-Wusu, says he will seek re-election on the
ticket of the New Patriotic Party in this year’s
parliamentary poll.

The former DVLA breached party protocol by going
independent after losing the primaries to then
incumbent MP, Kofi Opoku-Adusei.

Mr. Osei–Wusu was subsequently expelled from the
NPP though he won the Bekwai seat to represent his
people in parliament.

He told journalists at a regional rally he is back
in the party as a full-fledged member to seek the
mandate of the people, once again.

The selection of parliamentary candidate for the
NPP ahead of 2008 polls turned violent with
supporters of incumbent MP, Kofi Adusei-Poku and
former DVLA boss Joe Osei-Wusu staging one
demonstration after another.

The fierce battle was settled when Mr. Osei-Wusu
decided to go solo after losing by one vote to his
now predecessor, who was then Deputy Minister for
Fisheries.

Some NPP supporters were angry because Mr.
Osei-Wusu was given the platform to address party
faithful at Tuesday’s rally because they say he is
no more a member.

But Mr. Osei-Wusu insists he is back to the NPP
fold and qualified to contest on party ticket.

“I entered parliament as an independent member but
as soon as I entered, I aligned [with the NPP]. I
had a choice to align with either the majority or
the minority. I chose to align with the minority
led by the NPP and have since done business with
the NPP”.

According to him, there are records in parliament
house to prove his association with the NPP.

“Officially, with records of parliament, I am a
member of the minority”, he stressed.

He is optimistic he will lead the party in the
2012 elections for the Bekwai constituency.

“First and foremost when nominations are opened, I
will contest on the ticket of the NPP and, I am
confident that I will win”.

Three NPP members went independent in 2008
elections but won.
They are Messrs Seth Adjei-Baah, Ofori Kuruagu and
Joe Osei-Wusu for Nkawkaw, Bosome Freho and Bekwai
constituencies respectively.

So what made it possible for Mr. Osei-Wusu who
lost his membership status to contest on the
ticket of the party he once deserted?

Regional Chairman of the NPP, Frederick Fredua
Anto says the three have been given amnesty to
return back to the NPP.

“During the last congress, those three people who
went [independent] were given amnesty so all of
them are members of our party (NPP)”, he
explained.

Source - Nhyira Fm

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