Decision to go solo non-negotiable-Dr Buame

Dr. Samuel Buame, a lecturer at the University of Ghana seeking to contest for the Ho-East parliamentary seat as independent candidate, has said his decision to go solo was non-negotiable.  Dr Buame, an independent candidate in the 2004 election, told the GNA in an interview that he would not step down for any candidate.   During a campaign tour of Adaklu last Thursday  former President Jerry John Rawlings said the NDC might prevail upon Dr Buame to step down to brighten the chances of its candidate Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, the MP.  In the 2004 election Dr Buame polled 43.0 percent to Mrs Azuma-Mensah's 45.1 percent.  "The mistake people make is that they think everybody from the Volta Region belongs to the National Democratic Congress (NDC)", he   said.  "Why should they not ask their parliamentary candidate to step down for me?" Dr. Buame queried.  He said he did not have any permanent political friends but have permanent interests and that one of those interests was to change the destiny of his people when he enters parliament.  Dr. Buame said because of his growing popularity since 2004, many political parties approached him to stand on their tickets but he turned down those overtures.  He said previous members of parliament for the constituency paid lip-service to addressing the problems of the people who have progressively become poorer over the years.   Dr Buame said he was gingered by numerous appeals to him by the people of the area who considered him as an agent of change and development.  Dr Buame said because democracy in the country had not matured people tended to regard their political opponents as enemies and appealed to politicians to avoid politics of insults, deceit and mudslinging.  Dr. Buame said he had learnt from the mistakes of the last election and called on his supporters to be extra vigilant during the election.  He appealed to the electorate to ignore the lies being peddled by his detractors that independent candidates cannot fight their course in parliament.  The Ho-East Constituency might be dicey for the NDC especially as its former Regional Youth Organizer Mr Michael Gamor is contesting the parliamentary seat on the ticket of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP). GNA