NPP’S Plot To Use Rawlings In Volta Collapses

…. “Ghana’s Most Beautiful Lady” Also Distance Herself Campaign Strategy

A cleverly plotted move by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to use some celebrities from the Volta Region to lead its campaign in the region with a tacit endorsement of ex-President Jerry John Rawlings, has suffered a jolt, with the Volta regional representative of popular TV3 reality show, Ghana’s Most Beautiful for the year 2014, distancing herself from the group.

Solace Ewoenam Ekpedzor, denied links with the politically motivated group called, “Volta for change 2016” falsely claimed to have been formed by some disgruntled members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to scatter the party’s fortunes in its “World Bank,” this year.

“Ewoe”, as she is popularly called on the screen, in a statement copied to The Herald, said she was not behind the group contrary to growing reports that she formed the group to undo President John Mahama, the government and the NDC in its stronghold; the Volta Region.

Independent checks by The Herald revealed the group with the motto: “Mi Dezor Na Totro” meaning “Move For Change” in Ewe was planning a visit to ex-President Rawlings’ residence to get his endorsement for a so-called change in the pattern of voting during presidential and parliamentary elections.

The group is heavily being financed by the NPP with elements close to Nana Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, remote acting as recruiters.

They among other things promise meetings and photo opportunities with the two individuals. The objective of the group is to get some celebrities to lead the NPP campaign in the Volta Region. Interestingly, some of the promoters are not from the region.

But the Likpe-Abrani born lady in a follow up interview with The Herald, pointed out that she has never declared her political allegiance to anyone or political party, as it remains her sole prerogative.

The soft-spoken lady told The Herald, “Please disregard any information about me on the social media except as seen on my Facebook page. However, at the right time my lawyer will respond appropriately”.

She also denied pictures on the internet and several other social media platforms with the inscription; “I am for Nana Akufo-Addo”.

Ewoenam explained that, she only agreed to get involve with the group purposely because she was convinced by members that “the group is non-partisan”. She said she was young and wished to concentrate on building a career and life for herself.

Speaking to The Herald on the heels of the statement, Ewoe, who sounded sad about the whole drama said, she couldn’t have agreed to be part of the group if she was informed, it was for a political agenda. She explained that “It was the name Volta that got me attracted in the first place, especially when they said it was for the development of the Volta Region”.

According to the light-skinned goddess, though she wore the group’s T-shirt, she did so because, she was told it had no link with any political party, but only promoting developmental agenda of the region.

She was also persuaded to try the group’s T-Shirt on to see how it will look on her, because she had helped correct the Ewe inscription on the shirt, having earlier been spelt wrongly.

She admits her mother; Mrs. Edith Mawusi Ekpedzor, is a known opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) activist in the Hohoe South Constituency of the Volta Region, and so her mother was happy with people seeing her (Mother) wearing the T-shirt. However, she is independent-minded, apolitical and wants to be left alone to build her career.

She is also unhappy with people, who link to her mother’s party; NPP.

Ewoe explained, “I have friends who are NDC and if anything, I should hold allegiance to them not any political party”.

Though she explained her mother is not a member of the “Volta 4 Change 2016”, however, she is a known member of the NPP, who had served in many capacities, including a Constituency Treasurer and later a Constituency Secretary for the NPP.

Mrs. Ekpedzor, also served as a government appointee at the Hohoe District Assembly during President John Kufuor’s regime.

Ewoe, who is in her twenties, denied she has vowed to use her fame to destroy the governing party in its “World Bank”.

“I also want to condemn the argument that I vowed to use my fame to destroy the NDC government. I have no such intentions”, she lamented.

Following Ewoe’s disagreement with the leadership of the group for involving her in what looked like a pure deception, the group posted on it social media wall, “Solace Ekpedzor is a lady passionate about the development and advancement of her people. She is not a politician and she is only part of us, because we are non-partisan”.

It continued “it was for diverse group of people from the Volta Region but was “campaigning for a change in our way of voting en bloc for one party regardless of the benefit to our Region”.

“The Volta for change 2016” which earlier had Ewoe’s portrait picture as it symbol identity on Facebook said “if you are for the development of the Volta region, we are for you”. It warned, “If you take our vote for granted, we will campaign against you”.

The CEO of EWOEBRADS, suspected the rumour was an attempt by some individuals to drag her into problem, adding “it will not yield any result”.

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