CODA CEO, Jerry Ahmed Shaib Accused Of Allegedly Stealing Projects Executed By NPP MP -Amidst Tension and Confusion In Weija-Gbawe

Concerned Youth of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Weija-Gbawe Constituency of the Greater Accra Region has accused the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coastal Development Authority (CoDA), Mr Jerry Ahmed Shaib for allegedly stealing social and infrastructure developmental projects and programmes executed by the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mrs. Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah to make it his own.

According to the youth group, made up of NPP Weija-Gbawe constituency executives, polling station executives, ward coordinators, there are clear evidence that Mr. Ahmed Shaib is currently claiming ownership of the various social and infrastructure intervention projects the MP has lobbied to be brought to Weija-Gbawe constituency.

 At a press conference held in Silvia Executive Lodge located at Mendskrom in MacCarthy Hill, Accra.Weija on Wednesday April 12, 2023, the youth group led by its Convenor, Teacher Danquah and Co-Convenor, Mr Patrick Baidoo, expressed anger over alleged subtle mischievous attempts by Mr Ahmed Shaib to use a brute force to take the seat from the incumbent NPP MP, although the nomination to pick the contest the parliamentary primaries has not been opened.

He referred Lawyer Jerry Ahmed and his cohorts to the Article 12 of the NPP Party Constitution which he argued is supreme above anybody’s interest.  He lamented that the moves by Jerry Ahmed also undermines the NPP rules and regulations governing Parliamentary Primaries, while at the same time undermines the workings of the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) as nomination has not been opened.

 “Lawyer Jerry Ahmed does not belong to NPP WEIJA-GBAWE Constituency and also does not even vote in the constituency. Article 12 of the NPP Constitution states clearly that a person can only be qualified to contest parliamentary elections on NPP Ticket if he has worked in the constituency for at least 2-years and also if the aspiring candidate has a vote in the constituency he is seeking to lead.

 Ladies and gentlemen, the Concerned NPP Members in Weija-Gbawe constituency wish to call on the regional executives to call Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaibu and his cohorts to order since their actions are affront to the dictates of the party as enshrined in the party constitution,” he said.

 Teacher Danquah used the platform to also condemn secret meetings by Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib with some party executives, coordinators and polling station executives to clandestinely work against the sitting MP.  “Jerry Ahmed thinks he has amassed enough wealth and has decided to channel it into a wasteful agenda to unseat Hon. Tina but it will never work. Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib is not a registered voter in Weija-Gbawe Constituency and has not contributed in anyway meaningful to aid the course and growth of the party in the said constituency,” he posited.  Touching on the electoral records of the sitting MP Hon. Tina, the group recalled that Tina holds unprecedented electoral records from 2016 to 2020.

 They reiterated that Hon. Tina Mensah remains the strong force whose efforts, contributions and electoral results in the constituency even frightens the main opposition NDC.  

“Statistically in 2016, through the efforts of then Parliamentary candidate, Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah, Party Executives and our members, the NPP pulled a total of 36,803 votes representing 61.64% of the valid votes cast at the end of the Presidential Poll for then flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, while then President John Dramani Mahama, candidate of the NDC in same election secured 22,398 votes representing 37.51% of the valid votes cast.  

On the other hand, our sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Hon. Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah who was a very formidable candidate then and still, pulled 34,216 votes at the end of polls, representing $7.29%, by flooring her closest contender, Madam Obuobia Darko-Opoku of the National Democratic Congress whose party was in government and had all the state apparatus at her disposal.

She secured 25,087 votes representing 42.00%  (a clear difference of 9,129 Parliamentary votes not to mention the upsurge in Presidential votes that contributed to the electoral fortunes of the NPP at national level.

 He added that the “Diabolical and detrimental political gimmicks being played by Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the CODA CEO within Weija-Gbawe Constituency must cease in the interest and common good of the NPP. This ongoing and unconventional style of politicking, we say is very despicable and breaking the unity, and peace we have enjoyed in Weija-Gbawe Constituency