Minister Wins Sunyani West NPP Primaries

Space FM, Fiapre - Brong- Ahafo?s Regional Minister, Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah has been elected as the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Sunyani West Constituency.

Mr. Baffour Awuah polled 110 votes out of the 113 valid votes cast in an election supervised by the Brong- Regional Office of the Electoral Commission, (EC) at Fiapre.

His only rival, Dr Joseph Adu Mensah of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST) who defied the odds to challenge the obvious winner, had the shock of his life when he polled just three votes.

Dr Adu Mensah had earlier told the delegates that just as David defeated Goliath, he was going to humiliate Mr. Baffour Awuah though he knew very well he was no match for the minister. ? My fellow contestants have stepped aside for the minister but I will challenge him no matter the odds against me?, he said.

His bravery however could not match the strength of the regional minister. Moments before the election, Hon. Evelyn Adarkwa Frema, Assembly member for the Gubre Electoral Area and Professor Yaw Amoateng, a Lecturer in South Africa, dropped their ambitions in support of Mr. Baffour Awuah.

Hon. Adarkwa Frema, who was tipped to give Baffour Awuah the biggest challenge, said in the interest of the party she was stepping aside for her senior. ?I?m paving way for my senior who is the obvious choice for the party but I would challenge him in 2012?, she pointed out and urged her supporters to vote for Baffour Awuah.

Professor Amoateng revealed that all the researches he conducted on Baffour Awuah showed that he was competent enough to represent the constituency in parliament. He therefore saw no reason to challenge him. ? I did so many researches on Baffour Awuah but I found nothing against him so I can not run against him?, he said and also called on his supporters to vote for the minister.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Baffour Awuah commended the delegates for electing him and pledged to work very hard to retain the seat for the NPP.

The regional minister pointed out that with his experience as former Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive and Deputy regional minister, he has covered the entire region and knows where and how to carry his message to the people. ?I know the constituency more than any aspirant and I ?m in a better position to address the issues affecting the people ?, he said.

He urged members of the party to ensure that the Sunyani West Constituency becomes a no go area for the NDC. ? I appeal to you to work hard at ensuring that the constituency becomes a no go area for the NDC?, he said.

Mr. Baffour Awuah gave the assurance that with better campaigning, the NPP could increase its 2004 parliamentary votes from 22,000 to over 30,000.

He therefore called on the party?s supporters to be focused and deal with issues that would win the hearts of the electorate.

He also appealed to supporters of the other contestants to unite and rally behind him to ensure total victory for the party in the December elections.