Zak Rahman: Ayawaso East NPP candidate slams sitting MP over neglect of constituency

The New Patriotic Party's (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso East, Zak Rahman, has launched a blistering attack on the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hon. Naser Toure Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing him of neglecting the constituency despite being in power for over a decade.

Rahman's scathing criticism came as the Ayawaso East Constituency gears up for a highly contested election on December 7, with the NPP aiming to secure the parliamentary seat for the first time since Ghana's return to multi-party democracy in 1993.

Speaking during a dialogue meeting held amid an iftar gathering organised by his campaign team at the Nima East Electoral Area as part of an outreach effort during the holy month of Ramadan, Rahman criticised the NDC's performance in the constituency, saying it has been "a disappointing option."

"The NDC has been a disappointing option for this constituency and the Zongo community at large," he said.

"Despite occupying the parliamentary seat for over a decade, the incumbent MP has done little to uplift the image and develop this area. The people's mandate has been taken for granted by the NDC for far too long."

Zak Rahman goes into the December 7 contest against Hon. Mahama with the aim of snatching the seat for the first time in history since Ghana returned to multi-party democracy in 1993.

Hon. Mahama Toure became the MP in 2013, the year when Ayawaso North was carved out from Ayawaso East, and has since won all the elections held.

But Rahman has expressed confidence that the people have weighed the differences between the parties and appreciated the NPP's achievements while in government.

"The incumbent MP has continuously failed to inspire even the young ones in this constituency, despite being in power for more than a decade," he said.

"We are a big constituency, boasting of many intellectual young men and women, but at the floor of Parliament, we look so small because the one representing us lacks the clout. He looks timid and is always hiding from the cameras."

Citing the MP's perceived shortcomings, Rahman appealed, "This is the time to change direction and look up to the NPP, whose performance in the constituency has been remarkable despite not occupying the parliamentary seat."

The Ayawaso East Constituency has traditionally leaned towards the NDC, but Rahman believes the tide will turn in the NPP's favour in the upcoming December 7 polls.

The campaign for the election has been relatively dull as it is eight months away, but the NPP candidate's remarks seemingly set the stage for a heated political battle in the coming days.

Zack Rahman, however, leads a tough task to break new ground and secure the parliamentary seat for the first time in the party's history as the NDC seeks to consolidate its strong grip in the area.