Ho, Jan. 14, GNA - The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Volta Region has been tasked to claim for the party 24 percent or more of the votes in the region during the December elections. The challenge was issued at a meeting between Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party's presidential candidate and the party's leadership and activists in Ho on Friday.

The occasion provided the platform for 16 of the party's former presidential aspirants to restate their support for Nana Akufo-Addo. Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku said the party's electoral performances in the region had risen steadily from 3 percent in 1992, 5 percent in 1996, 8 percent in 2000 and 14 percent in 2004 and must rise to 25 percent in 2008.

"If we cannot double our votes then we are not doing well and something must be wrong", Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey said. Mr Felix Owusu-Agyepong said sloganeering did not win votes unless it reflected the number of people who had been won over into the party. "Be encouraged, be advocates in the communities, this is a difficult region,'' said Mr Kwabena Agyepong.

"We must win to survive", said Mr Boakye Agyarko.

Mr Dan Botwe said the party was capable of winning at least one million votes in the Volta Region provided each of the 100,000 officers of the party in the region worked seriously to win over their numerous friends, family members and acquaintances.

Mrs Agnes Okudzeto, First National Vice-Chairman of the party, said it was time the regional branch of the party worked to rid the region of its label as the weak region in the party.