NPP calls on chiefs to be cautious

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on chiefs and opinion leaders in the Volta Region to resist alleged manoeuvres by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to lure them to sacrifice their subjects for political gains.

Major Courage Quarshigah (Rtd), National Organiser of the NPP, made the call at a press conference at Ho. He alleged, among other things, that the NDC is whipping up tribal sentiments in the regions in the run-up to the December 28 presidential run-off between Mr. J.A. Kufuor of the NPP and Professor J.E.A. Mills of the NDC.

Major Quarshigah said this practice was creating a very dangerous situation in the region with serious implications for national unity and cohesion. He therefore appealed to President Jerry John Rawlings to do all he can to ensure a peaceful free and fair election, saying "the president has done his best to this point".

Major Quarshigah said such pronouncements as "the run-off is a war between the Ashantis and the Ewes, the Volta Region will be ceded to Togo under an NPP administration, that projects in the region, especially, will suffer under the NPP and allegations of molestation against Ewes in Accra, Kumasi and other parts of the country "are only setting the tone for a possible tribal conflict.

He further alleged that the NDC has set in motion processes to rig the presidential run-off in the region. "We have heard of emergency meetings in the Regional Minister's residence with chiefs in the region, the availability of 600,000 already thumbprint ballot papers, arrangements to move Togolese into the region five days before the run-off to vote for the NDC."

Other allegations refer to plans to frame up Major Quarshigah and the training of thugs to intimidate voters in the region, including NPP agents.Major Quarshigah said the tremendous improvement in the performance of the NPP in the region as against the poor showing of the NDC has become a source of worry to the ruling party, which is "resolved to use every foul means to save face in the run-off".

"We in the opposition alliance for this run-off will do the best we can to prevent the NDC from recording any false figures that may result in setting up the Volta Region against other regions and the Ewes against other tribes," Major Quarshigah assured.

Mr. Agbeko Sedziafa (Rtd), Regional Chairman of the Convention People's Party (CPP), also alleged that 800 million cedis has been set aside by the NDC to be shared among chiefs in the region.

He further alleged that a delegation of chiefs from the region will be meeting their counterparts in the Central Region in connection with the presidential run-off. At the press conference were Mrs Obaa Yaa Afrifa, National Women's Organiser, NPP; Elizabeth Ohene, BBC correspondent, Mr Emmanuel S. Ohene, member of the Volta Region NPP resource group, and Mr James Dogbe, Volta Regional chairman of the NPP.