General News of Tuesday, 3 August 2010

Source: GNA

NPP delegates gear up for Saturday's congress

Sunyani, Aug. 3 GNA - A total of 12,940 delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Brong-Ahafo are expected to cast their votes in the 24 constituencies of the region on Saturday, August 7.

The party goes to polls on August 7 to elect its presidential candidate for the 2012 general election.

Mr Alfred Ofori Annye, Regional Secretary of the party, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Tuesday, said there were 2,384 polling stations, 58 electoral areas and 150 zones in the 24 constituencies.

Giving a breakdown of the delegates, Mr Annye said 514 eligible voters were expected to exercise their franchise in Sunyani West constituency, 567 in Sunyani East, 488 in Tano North, 604 in Tano South, 377 in Asutifi South and 388 in Asutifi North constituencies.

In Asunafo South constituency, 688 voters will vote, 496 in Asunafo North, 588 in Berekum, 361 in Dormaa East, 696 in Dormaa West, 564 in Jaman South and 477 in Jaman North.

Mr Annye said 474 delegates would vote in Wenchi, 748 in Tain, 533 in Techiman South, 392 in Techiman North, 354 in Kintampo South and 611 in Kintampo North constituencies.

In Nkoranza South constituency, 635 delegates are expected to exercise their franchise, 381 in Nkoranza North, 672 in Atebubu/Amantin, 571 and 575 in Sene and Pru constituencies, respectively.

He appealed to the party's national hierarchy to give equal opportunities to all the five candidates in the flagbearership race to avoid divisions after the congress.

Mr Annye noted that the NPP remained as a strong party under "a great elephant" and that all tendencies with the potential to create divisions within the rank and file should be eliminated.

The Regional Secretary appealed to supporters of the various candidates to accept and rally solidly behind the candidate who would win to lead the party to regain power in 2012.

"Since all the candidates are capable, there is the need for us all to throw our weight behind any one who would be elected because the party is supreme than any individual," he advised.

Mr Annye noted with concern that internal wrangling, petty squabbles and backbiting would affect the fortunes of the party and appealed to supporters to demonstrate unity of purpose and tackle the diverse problems that led the party into opposition.

He commended the national executives and the council of elders as well as the candidates for measures designed to make the congress successful.

"We need a united front to match the National Democratic Congress (NDC) bumper to bumper. We have to look at the NDC government with microscopic lens and observe that they are not doing the work they are supposed to do for Ghanaians.

"We have heard the cry of Ghanaians to the NPP to come and save them from the current economic hardships and believe me we are going to do that appropriately in 2012," he said.