Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says being uncontested in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries has not made him relaxed rather he is still working hard for his constituents.

He disclosed on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV on Friday, 12th May 2023.

According to Mr. Ablakwa, although his current position may seem satisfying, there is a lot more responsibility and tasks to be fulfilled.

“In as much as it is really gratifying and humbling when people allow you to go unopposed, it does not mean that you are absorbed of responsibility. Indeed, all the requirements that those who have competition are expected to carry out, you also must,” he said.

Mr. Ablakwa added that his current position makes him disadvantaged especially when he has to single-handedly fold up the cost involved in the election in his constituency as against sharing costs when there is competition.

“You see, sometimes you can even be disadvantaged when executives will call all aspirants and say, look, this is the budget for the election so we are sharing it across the board. But, when you are going unopposed, it’s on you alone and you have to foot the bills,” Mr. Ablakwa said

He mentioned feeding, transportation expenses, and the venue for the election as some exigencies to be fulfilled.

The North Tongu MP noted that due to the party’s responsibility to absorb the cost for some orphan constituencies, it cannot offer help to less struggling constituencies.

“You don’t really need to wait for the party and often, the party will like to prioritize orphan constituencies where they don’t really have an incumbent….because at least as an incumbent, you are earning something small and so you should help the party, particularly when you are in opposition.”

The ranking member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee emphasized that although running unopposed relieves him of costs such as rampant advertisement, posters, billboards, and what have you, there is more work and responsibility and that is where his attention is focused on.

Mr. Ablakwa has had to compete in his past elections.

The 2016 Borth Tongu parliamentary election saw a strong competition between the incumbent MP and Christopher Kofi Eleblu who competed as an independent candidate.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has set 13th May 2023, for both presidential and parliamentary primaries.

The party will elect its flagbearer for the 2024 general election, as well as its parliamentary candidates across all 275 electoral constituencies.

The General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, announced at the party headquarters on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.

By: Leonora Enyonam Annoh | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana