In a commendable show that party loyalty should supersede personal interest, the Member of Parliament for Effia Constituency, Joseph Cudjoe has since August this year been offering financial and other forms of assistance to the campaign of NPP’s Parliamentary Candidate, Lawyer Isaac Boamah Nyarko.
Joseph Cudjoe lost the parliamentary primaries to Lawyer Isaac Boamah in an exercise which was characterised by acrimony and lies, directed at the hardworking incumbent MP.
Nonetheless, Joseph Cudjoe has never looked back or been deterred as “the love for the party” and his personal desire to see the NPP Candidate win the Constituency, stands paramount than “my interest.”
This reporter has obtained receipts documenting monthly donations of ten thousand cedis each, starting in August, which Joseph Cudjoe has contributed to Lawyer Boamah’s campaign. These payments were deposited into the constituency’s account at Cal Bank, with the most recent transaction made on November 5.
In a telephone interview, Emmanuel Ohene Gyan, an aide to Joseph Cudjoe, confirmed the financial contributions, stating that they are intended to “shore up the financial resources of Lawyer Boamah” as part of broader efforts to ensure the party not only retains the seat but “wins convincingly in both the parliamentary and presidential votes” in Effia.
“The first payment was made in August. The party and the Lawyer Boamah campaign were duly notified, and this process has been repeated for each subsequent deposit,” he explained.
Mr Gyan also highlighted the “remarkable works” of Joseph Cudjoe, which he believes provides a “reasonable basis” for the Effia electorate to support the NPP.
“It would be remiss to claim that MP Joseph Cudjoe has solved all of Effia’s problems. However, Effia has witnessed significant development, including physical infrastructure such as roads, schools, and water projects, as well as human development initiatives where hundreds of residents have been supported to start or expand businesses or acquire new skills and many more,” he noted.
He added, “It is important to mention that Joseph Cudjoe was the brain behind the construction of astroturfs to discover more football and other sporting talents. Indeed, the first of its kind was built in Effia, which is a testament to the progress the constituency has seen.”
Mr Gyan expressed confidence that Joseph Cudjoe’s achievements would form the foundation on which Lawyer Boamah and the NPP could secure a significant number of votes in the upcoming elections.
Regrettably, Gyan confirmed that Lawyer Boamah and his campaign have yet to acknowledge the monthly support. Nonetheless, he assured that Joseph Cudjoe remains committed to ensuring that he “hands over the MP mantle to an NPP parliamentarian.”
In a separate interview, Joseph Cudjoe refuted claims that he has been absent from party activities since losing the primaries.
“I have been participating in various activities, many of which are not visible to party members in Effia but are ultimately for the constituency’s benefit. When I am unable to attend an event, I provide advance notice and ensure a suitable representative is present. For example, during the constituency campaign launch, my wife attended on my behalf. And you heard what happened,” he stated.
In other constituencies, losing MPs have either run as independent candidates or engaged in “legal battles,” creating deep divisions within the party.
“Your station covered the events leading up to the Effia primaries and witnessed the things that were said about me. However, the idea of running as an independent never crossed my mind and never will. I joined a united party, and I will leave it, as an MP, even stronger,” he emphasized.
Mr Cudjoe dismissed allegations that projects he initiated came to a halt after his loss, insisting that ongoing projects are still being completed.
