Tension is mounting in the Asante-Akyem North Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following an allegation that Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, parliamentary aspirant who lost in the constituency primary to Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, former finance and economic planning minister was linked to the Minister’s death.

Mr Appiah-Kubi a native of Juansa lost the contest by 90 votes to 58. Followers of Mr Baah-Wiredu and other constituency party executives are said to be pointing accusing fingers at Appiah-Kubi for allegedly "casting a spell" on the late Minister.On Saturday, a planned visit by Mr Appiah-Kubi, to console the bereaved family was cancelled on the advice of the police for security reasons as some of the youth at Agogo were said to have organised "to discipline him". A police source confirmed to the Times that they advised against the proposed visit.

On Saturday, the Agogohene, Nana Akuoko Sarpong, held a meeting with the family of the late Minister at his palace on the developments at which the Omanhene indicated his determination to stop any untoward act by the youth who had allegedly planned to attack Mr Appiah Kubi.

Present at the meeting included the Aduanahene of the family of Mr Baah-Wiredu, Opanin Akwasi Nti, Apesimakahene and Opanin Yaw Biram. Nana Akuoko Sarpong called for peace and unity in the area, saying that the death of the Minister should unite the people and not to divide them.

He reminded the youth of the contributions of Mr Apppiah-Kubi to the communities in the provision of a library at Agogo though he hailed from Juansa as well as the effort he was making to bring down a South African Company, ‘Scanfuel,’ to go into jetropha plantation to produce biofual. The Times could not reach Mr Appiah-Kubi for his reaction but a source close to him said that the resentments were coming from a small section of the late Minister’s supporters who were opposed to the candidature of Mr Appiah Kubi. The source said Mr Appiah-Kubi did not need to be a Member of Parliament before he could contribute to the constituency’s development.

Anticipating the opening of nominations for another election following Mr Baah-Wiredu’s death six constituency delegates who spoke to the Times cautioned the party hierarchy not to make any mistake of changing the names of delegates.

They are Kenneth Ohemeng, Konongo, Joy Akoto, Konongo, Michael Kumah, Konongo, Adjei Benson, Patrensa, Kwasi Owusu, Kyekyebiase and James Asiamah, Nyaboo. Mr Appiah-Kubi, has stated elsewhere that people should focus on how to give the late Minister a befitting burial rather than who succeeds him in Parliament.

He was quoted by an Accra newspaper Ghanaian Observer last Thursday as saying that although he contested the late Baah-Wiredu at the last constituency primary he had not taken a decision on whether to contest the seat or not because the country had lost a great man on whom Ghanaians, including himself, must bestow honour. Mr Appiah-Kubi reportedly said he was wealthy enough and could decide not to go into politics but he was pressurized by a group of opinion leaders in the area who thought he could also add to what Mr. Baah-Wiredu had done for the constituency.

He said the recent parliamentary primary could not be tagged as negative development because it offered an opportunity to the electorate to elect the best candidate who could effectively champion their cause. After Mr Baah-Wiredu defeated him, Mr. Appiah-Kubi said he had spoken to him on phone on how both could foster unity and development in the area.