Donkor-Frodjour Retains Chairmanship Of Ashanti NPP

Kumasi (Ashanti Region), 26 Oct., Dr. Kwame Donkor-Fordwor, an economist, has retained his position as the Ashanti Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in an election at the regional congress of the party in Kumasi yesterday. He was elected unopposed when Dr. Edward Prempeh, a medical officer, who filed his nomination to contest the chairmanship, stepped down shortly before the election. Mr. John K. Koduah, a legal practitioner, polled 150 votes as against 14 by Mr. D.D, Djarbeng to become the first regional vice- chairman. Mr. Kwaku Asante Darko had 97 votes to become the regional secretary as against 67 votes by his opponent, Mr. D.K. Donkor. Nana Opuni Gyarteng the former regional organiser lost his post to Mr. Kwabena Agyenim Boateng who polled 143 votes as against 13 by Nana Gyarteng. Alhaji Alaska had 118 votes as against 61 by Mr. Mohammed Ben Abdallah to become the new youth organiser. Mr. Eddie Frimpong Appau and Mrs. Philomena Prempeh, were returned unopposed as treasurer and women's organiser respectively. Addressing the delegates, Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey, national chairman, dismissed speculations in certain quarters that the party in the region was on the verge of disintegration because of petty squabbles. He observed that the NPP like any other party, has differences but added that these problems had been resolved, paving the way for a more united and formidable party in the region. Mr. Adjetey advised members to strive to resolve their differences quietly to enhance confidence in the party. The national chairman attributed the inability of the party to win all the 33 seats in the region in the 1996 elections to some petty internal problems and inadequate funds but gave the assurance that this time around, all the seats will fall to the NPP. Mr. J.A. Kufuor, the NPP presidential candidate in the 1996 elections, expressed concern about the activities of some members of the party who take delight in undermining and launching unjustified attacks on the leadership. He said such acts negatively affect the party and casts a slur on its leadership while paving the way for opponents to weaken the power base of the party. Mr. K.A. Biritwum, out-going acting regional secretary called for the re-organisation of the party at all levels and the injection of innovative strategies to enable the party to win the elections in the year 2000.