Lawyer/Diplomat unseats NPP Majority leader

Tema, 02 Aug. GNA - The long awaited primaries of the Tema West New Patriotic Party (NPP) took place on Saturday in Tema with the incumbent, Lawyer Abraham Ossei-Aidoo, losing the seat to a colleague Lawyer

and a Diplomat, Madam Irene Naa Torshie Addo. Madam Addo 38, Ghana's Deputy Ambassador to the United States (US) won with 55 votes to unseat Mr. Aidoo, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and also the Majority Leader who polled 37 votes bringing his 12 years tenure in office to an end.

Contrary to speculations that the event would experience violence following the previous misunderstanding between the camps of the two, the election was rather held in a peaceful atmosphere though under heavy police guard.

Madam Addo thanked her supporters for the confidence reposed in her and called for support from all party members of the constituency, urging them to intensify their campaigns to enable the party to retain the constituency seat.

Mr Paul Azure Sampana, Chairman of the constituency party called on all members to bury differences that had cropped up and support Madam Addo to win massively saying voting for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party's presidential candidate leaving her would rather place the party in an unfortunate position.

Some of the constituency's executives had accused the national executives of the party of delaying the primaries to favour Mr. Aidoo, thus creating the controversy.

Mr Aidoo conceded defeat and wished Madam Addo well in her endeavour. The election was conducted and supervised by the Tema Electoral officials headed by Mr Michael Boadu.