I WILL NOT CONTEST AGAIN — LEE OCRAN (PAGE 14)

The former vociferous Member of Parliament for Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, Mr Lee Ocran, has announced that he will not contest the Jomoro Parliamentary seat again.
He made the announcement after he presented 2,800 bags of cement to be distributed among flood victims in the Jomoro and Ellembelle constituencies.
“It is not that I have lost interest in the seat because I was not re-elected, the point is that when I was contacted to contest, I told the people I will contest the seat for only two terms win or lose,” he said.
Mr Ocran said he wanted younger members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the constituency to contest so he would use his experience to back them.
Mr Ocran said “I have been in politics since 1979 and have contributed enough to the development of politics in the country”.
“As a matter of fact if not because of my new job as the High Commissioner to South Africa I would have contested for an executive position in the party that will help position the NDC strongly,” he said.
He told the people in his constituency that, his strength in Parliament would not be missed because there were others in the constituency that would ensure that the voices of the people were heard.
“Before Lee Ocran went to Parliament, there was Francis Amelema, very vocal and I can assure you that those who will come after me would be more than me,” he said.
He reminded the people that the 2,800 bags of cement, was his own personal effort and not from his party, therefore it should not be politicised.
“This is not NDC cement and it is not from the government, this is Lee Ocran cement, therefore, it should not be politicised,” he said.
“I did not go to Parliament for personal gains, I represent the people, and I share all that I have with them, I want to be remembered as the man who shares all he has with his people and committed to their needs,” he said.
Mr Ocran called for unity and understanding, and said he was not peeved because he lost the election, “Change is good; it gives people the chance to compare.”
He said democracy meant tolerance of divergent views to ensure that at the end of the argue and expression of all forms of views people came up with workable ideas that would make the country stronger.
Mr Ocran called on the youth to take advantage of the slightest opportunity to empower themselves through education, “all of us have a role to play, let us acquire the skills that would enable us to handle the future without any difficulties.”
He urged them not to direct their strength and skill in to any activity that would create a bad image for themselves.