The Member of Parliament for Bantama, Daniel Okyem Aboagye, has said that he is satisfied with his first term in the legislature.
The Bantama legislator, who is also the ranking member of the Finance Committee of Parliament in an interview on Eyewitness News said he was satisfied with his performance and trusted the delegates to make the right choice.
Mr. Okyem Aboagye is facing stiff competition from a deputy Chief of Staff, Francis Asenso-Boakye, in the upcoming New Patriotic Party parliamentary primary on June 20.
“It wouldn’t be a verdict, it is a principle of democracy that we have chosen for ourselves so even though I know came in to support to bring President Akufo-Addo into power, I have distinguished myself as a first time MP and I am proud of what I have been able to do, and I say that humbly. It will not be a verdict on anybody but rather a consequence of democracy.”
He further indicated that he was sure of victory at the polls on June 20 despite his opponent going on a purported vote-buying spree.
“Money can’t do everything. From what we have heard he is using money. If you declare your support and you record a video you get an amount. So, he is using money heavily from what I gather. Some are done by his agents and he does some himself because delegates don’t forget, they talk. The amount depends on who is getting it; people are getting GHS2,000, others are getting GHS3,000, people are getting fridges, ‘aboboyaas’ and others. Some are getting motorbikes and others are getting free rides to tag along to China and all other places but these do not scare me at all.”
Mr Okyem Aboagye indicated that he was not engaged in the sharing of money but rather was involved in making the lives of his constituents better.
“I provide a different kind of help, I think if I am going to give you a trip to go to China, and I know your circumstance, I would rather give you GHS5,000 to just go and get a business and not to take you to China and you will go and come back and be begging for money.”