I learned how to wash with voters from Rawlings – Mike Oquaye Jnr tells critics

0 0 2 minutes read

Mike Oquaye Jnr is looking to unseat the incumbent after his loss to her in previous primaries

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Dome-Kwabenya Constituency, Aaron Michael Oquaye Jnr. believes his simple personality will help him win the seat on December 7.

In an interview with TV3’s Evelyn Tengmaa, he rebuffed criticism for helping a woman to wash her clothes during one of his visits to a home within the Dome Kwabenya Constituency.

Ocuaye Jnr. expressed his readiness to serve the people by addressing the constituency’s numerous development needs.

Michael Aaron Oquaye Jnr. failed to represent the people of Dome-Kwabenya in two attempts in the NPP parliamentary primary.

Adwoa Safo, who took over in 2013 from Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has served the people of Dome Kwabenya for 12 years.

Mike Oquaye Jnr. won his third NPP parliamentary primary, defeating Adwoa Safo and he attributed the victory to his presence in the constituency this time around.

“2020 which was the second time, she was in Ghana and I was in India so at the time someday too could say that because I was not here, that is how come it went against me. This time, I was Ghana and she was mainly in America, so maybe that also went as an advantage for me, but whatever advantage that God gives you, you take it. At the end of the day, she is still my sister there is no issue.

When I lost to her for example in 2020, I still went ahead worked in the constituency for her, the party and I know she will also do the same for me,” Mr Oquaye said.

He believes it would be a privilege for him to represent and serve his people. Since winning, Oquaye Jnr. has been visiting constituents to understand their challenges and he commented on a recent video of him washing with a woman.

“There was a recent controversy on the issue of me going to visit people in their houses and in one case washing with one of the ladies, there was no matter. In fact, the video was making good rounds then my brothers in the NDC, we all know they want to do propaganda, they took the video and wrote that I am washing something else.

Don’t you know as a politician you must engage the people? if I did not need votes will you go and visit people in their houses talk to them to tell them who you are and what you want to bring. So if you are a politician and you go to somebody’s house and you see that they are washing and you say that madam let me wash one of the shorts for you, you know what that simply means, you are endearing yourself to them.

I have learnt such from great politicians like President Rawlings, he will enter your house and start pounding fufu, my own big brother Oko Vanderpuije he will walk into your house and help you to do your banku. Do the NDC find anything wrong with that?” He asked.

The former Ambassador to India explained that as a politician, it is crucial to establish a rapport with the general public.

The Dome Kwabenya constituency, with 172,000 voters as of 2020, is the largest in the country, occupied by former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye until 2013 when Adwoa Safo took over.