A staunch supporter of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a trader at the Dome market in Accra, has publicly declared her decision to never vote for Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya constituency, Adwoa Safo, again.
“All we are saying this … I am a full NPP member. Solid. And we voted for you Adwoa.. because we love you, but what you did to us was not good at all. We voted for you so you will come and take care of us. That is why we seriously rallied behind you. But … since you chose to treat us this way, then we say we are tired. Adwoa says she is tired, so she should sit down. They should change her for us. As for NPP we love the party, we haven’t stopped. But if they don’t know and they bring her back we will vote skirt and top,” the passionate trader declared.
This bold statement comes amidst a growing sentiment among traders in the area, who have expressed their disappointment in Adwoa Safo’s performance as their representative.
The sentiment among the market women has been simmering for several months, with traders collectively voicing their concerns about Safo’s apparent failure to fulfill her duties to the people of Dome Kwabenya.
The sentiment appears to be shared widely, as one market woman pointedly asked, “When we voted for Adwoa Safo, what did she do for us? She has done nothing, and we have never seen her since the election.”
This dissatisfaction reached its peak in September when Adwoa Safo issued a public apology for her extended absence from her parliamentary duties. While she expressed regret and acknowledged her unjustified actions, the apology did not seem to satisfy the constituents fully. The NPP constituency Secretary for Dome-Kwabenya, Theophilus Larbi, described her apology as habitual and indicated that her re-election as a parliamentary candidate could negatively impact the party’s prospects in the constituency.
Larbi emphasized the sentiment of the majority, stating that if Adwoa Safo were to return, many constituents would not vote for the party. He highlighted that residents were weary of her repeated absences from Parliament and her lack of communication with her constituents. They believed that her actions had damaged the party’s reputation in the constituency and that she should not be re-elected as a parliamentary candidate.
However, opinions among Dome-Kwabenya constituents appear divided on this matter. While some are willing to accept Safo’s apology and give her another chance, others firmly believe it’s time to explore other candidates. One constituent expressed frustration with the perceived neglect of the constituency, remarking, “Adwoa Safo’s administration is very poor; you see her around only during election time with ‘macho’ men.” Another constituent emphasized the need for change, stating, “The MPs are many; we want them to be downsized.”
The Dome Market woman’s declaration not to vote for Adwoa Safo again reflects a broader sentiment of dissatisfaction with her performance as an MP in the Dome Kwabenya constituency, despite her affiliation with the NPP.
The apology issued by Safo has not entirely quelled the concerns of constituents, and the constituency appears to be divided on whether to give her another chance or seek new representation.