My Fights Don’t Include ‘Peau Claire’ Battles

-Dokua Shades Afia Akoto

The parliamentary primaries race for the Okaikoi North constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is getting hot by the day, with two female aspirants in the contest throwing jabs, amidst dirtying each other.

Nana Ama Dokua Asamiah-Adjei, a deputy minister for Trade and Industry, who is one of the aspirants, in a subtle jab, said she knows how to choose her battles and those fights do not include her contender, Afia Akoto, a former deputy chief executive of the Microfinance and Small Loan Centre (MASLOC).

In a very sarcastic and carefully couched post, on her social media page, Ms. Asiamah-Adjei said she is careful whom she fights with and that does not include “Peau Claire” battles.

Peau Claire, per The Anchor’s search on the internet, is a mild emulsion cream which gives to one’s skin a fair and clear complexion.

Although Ms. Asiamah-Adjei, who is a sitting Member of Parliament (MP) for the Akuapem North constituency in the Eastern Region, did not mention her contender’s name, many on social media, especially party members, have assumed the shots were fired at her now rival, Afia Akoto.

As it is said in Twi, “Akutiabiaanim ne wura” to wit, “the one to whom sarcasm or veiled insult is directed at knows it.”

According to the deputy minister, as a fan of Ghanaian musician Shatta Wale, she knows her level and, therefore, tasked her opponent to look for her mate to contend with.

“I’m not an SM fan for nothing, because I really know my level, I pick my battles and those battles I pick certainly can’t include “peau Claire” battles. Sorry find your mate!” She said in a post on her Facebook page, sighted by The Anchor.

It is not clear what may have triggered the heavy punch, but the two ladies have been throwing mud at each other in a coded fashion.

The two-term MP, who has been described by supporters of the former deputy MASLOC boss as a “temporal tenant,” has been on the quiet since she burst onto the scene shifting from the Eastern Region to the Greater Accra Region.

Though an appointee of government, not much is heard of her until recently she went to submit her forms for the election at the constituency office at Akweteyman, a suburb of Accra.

She has been in videos visiting some delegates in the constituency, appealing to them to vote for her.

She is alleged to be moving to a different region due to the active presence of the boss of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, who comes across as a force to reckon with.

Even though some have viewed her decision as unpopular and a dicey one, she appears unperturbed and from September to December, the verdict will be out.

Afia Akoto, on the other hand, sees herself as the true resident or daughter of the constituency and stands tall among the others.

After announcing her decision to contest the seat and subsequently picking and submitting her nomination forms, the NPP communicator has declared herself as the “landlady” of the constituency.

Her supporters believe she is the one that knows the ins and outs of the constituency and understands their problems.

They maintain she is not someone that, after being voted for, will go into hibernation and leave constituents to their fate.

One of her supporters argued that the constituency needs someone who will be at their beck and call, not someone nicknamed “temporal citizen.”

“Sometyms in selecting parliamentary candidates n MP’s its good u vote for people who have had a long stint in the constituency, who know and understand the plight of the people (esp.; party folks), one who has a permanent address, one who rain or shine, is easily accessible. You vote for “temporal citizens” n then later complain of not seeing them. One of the many reasons I support Afia Akoto. The landlady of OKAI KWEI NORTH VOTE RIGHT VOTE FOR ONE U CAN EASILY REACH OUT and she is available. NYAME B3 Y3,” a supporter said.

The two ladies are among six aspirants, including the managing editor of the Searchlight newspaper, Ken Agyei Kuranchie, and a former Member of Parliament (MP), Fuseini Issah, who have filed waiting to contest the seat currently held by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Meanwhile, Ms. Asiamah-Adjei is the only sitting MP who has eyes on two constituencies as at now. Her decision to vacate her seat in the Eastern Region and contest in the Greater Accra Region has led to her now having a divided attention.

While sharing her resources with the people of the Akuapem North constituency, she is doing same at the Okaikoi North constituency so as not to lose out.

In a recent post on Facebook, Dokua said, “I am committed to supporting healthcare in Akuapem North and Okaikwei North.”

She gave this assurance when she shared a flyer, indicating her foundation’s readiness to provide healthcare, including health insurance and health screening to the two constituencies.

Source:Anchorghana.com