Hardly a week after the country’s largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress announced the formal opening of nominations to select parliamentary candidates to contest the 2004 elections, fierce struggle has ensued over who qualifies to run in the primaries for the Anlo constituency.
The sitting MP for the area is Victor Gbeho, former Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, another Anlo citizen, Squadron Leader Sowu, a former Minister for Works and Housing and until 2000, the sitting MP for Anlo is reported to be engaged in s fierce battle with Victor Gbeho over the seat.
Following the impasse, the party has decided to shelve nominations to the Anlo seat because of the raging feud between the two, which observers think if not carefully would divide the support base of the party.
The Anlo seat, amongst 19 others in the Volta Region is regarded as a safe seat in what is touted as the ”World Bank of the NDC”.
During the 2000 elections, Gbeho contested the elections as an Independent candidate and beat Sowu who secured the nomination to contest the seat on the ticket of the NDC.
Victor Gbeho is considered as one of the closest advisers of the Founder of the party, Flt Lt Rawlings and is always seen at his side. Clend Sowu on the other hand, is considered to be a party faithful and vociferous advocate of Volta Region interests but speaks his mind very freely and is forthright although not a favourite of the founder.
The rivalry therefore between the two particularly at this time that the Founder is not in power will be fierce and uncompromising and promises to be a duel to the finish.
Source: GhanaWeb
