Member of Parliament for Wulensi, Stanley Yaw Nandaya

The Member of Parliament for Wulensi, Stanley Yaw Nandaya, has opened up about intense pressure and even threats from his constituents that pushed him to contest the 2024 general election outside his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking in an interview on Citi TV on Tuesday, June 24, the independent MP disclosed that after losing the NDC parliamentary primaries, he initially withdrew from active politics in the constituency, hoping party leaders would step in to reconcile with grassroots supporters.

However, he said the party’s efforts at mending relations backfired, further deepening the rift and fueling public anger.

“The party had an issue with me, but the people who vote or are looking for a leader have that power,”citinewsroom.com quoted him to have said.

According to Nandaya, after the primaries, he intentionally kept a low profile to allow party officials to lead reconciliation talks. Instead, the emissaries sent to the community reportedly worsened the situation.

“Those who were sent to engage the people ended up inflaming tempers. That infuriated the youth, and even my elders were angry. They felt insulted,” he recounted.

He criticized the poor communication and approach by party representatives, arguing that conflict resolution requires individuals with the right skills and understanding of the community.

“When the people who should deal with the matter do not know what to say or how to say it, it leads to chaos,” he added.

“They told me if I didn’t contest, I should forget about ever returning to the constituency. Some even threatened that I should never set foot there again,” he revealed.

Nandaya eventually heeded the calls and contested the 2024 parliamentary election as an independent candidate, successfully retaining his seat.

AM/KA

Ever heard of Nkofie, the legendary Kwahu cave believed to grant wishes? Join GhanaWeb's People & Places as we take you on an exclusive tour of this mystical site: