Mac Manu is new Chairman of NPP

Accra, Dec 18, GNA - Mr Peter Mac Manu, Former Western Regional Chairman of New Patriotic Party (NPP), is the new National Chairman of the Party.

Mr Manu polled 711 votes to beat Mr Stephen Ayesu Ntim, Former Vice Chairman of the Party, who had 635 votes in an election conducted by the Electoral Commission, at the National Delegates Congress of the Party held at the University of Ghana, Legon.

Mr Harona Esseku, the incumbent National Chairman of the Party, withdrew from the race at the eleventh hour and thus reduced the chairmanship contest to a direct one between Mr Manu and Mr Ntim. In all nine positions were vied for at the elections, which pundits said were crucial in determining the fortunes of the Party in Election 2008 after the end of the second term of sitting President John Agyekum Kufuor.

Madam Hawa Yakubu, a Former Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, made history, when she was declared the First National Vice-Chairman of the Party.

She polled 1,184 votes against 532 votes for Mrs Agnes Adzovi Okudzeto, the second vice chairperson, 517 for Mr Abdul Rahman, a businessman, 368 votes for Mr Edmund Annan, outgoing Acting General Secretary, and 262 for Ms Margaret Adoley Acquaye; Mr Ahmadu Kaleem, a businessman, had 178 votes and 34 for Alhaji Saani Iddi, a former MP and District Chief Executive for Bimbila.

Nana Ohene Ntow, Government Spokesman on Finance, was declared the new General Secretary, with 812 votes, against 479 for Mr Abeeku Dickson, Former Deputy Director of the National Service Secretariat; 164 votes for Mr Mustapha Hamid, the outgoing National Youth Organiser; 41 votes for Mr Andy Appiah Kubi, a student lawyer; 23 votes for Mr Kwadwo Afari, NPP Press Secretary and nine votes for Mr Francis Kojo Smith, a legal practitioner.

Mr Lord Oblitei Commey, the incumbent National Organiser retained his position with 697 votes against 603 for Alhaji Moctar Bamba, a former Deputy Minister, and 53 votes for Mr Iddrisu Musah Superior. Madam Gifty Ama Asantewaa Ayeh, popularly called Daavi Ama, and a founding member of the Party, clinched the position of National Treasurer with 841 votes against Mr Kwesi Arthur, the immediate past Greater Accra Regional Treasurer, who had 505 votes.

Ms Rita Asobayire also retained her position as National Women's Organiser with 563 votes, against 469 for Ms Tina Gifty Mensah; 221 for Mrs Rosemary Ekwam and 80 for Mrs Halima Mahama Appiah.

Mr John Boadu became the National Youth Organiser with 785 votes as against 250 for Mr Pius Enam Hadzide; 146 for Mr Abdul Majeed, a Marketing Executive, 135 votes for Mr Arnold Kwaku Boateng and 40 votes for Mr Michael Ampong, both youth activists of the Party.

Mr Manu, the new Chairman in a victory speech, said the victory was for the majority of the Party members and asked the victors in the other positions to be magnanimous to work with the vanquished.

He asked the losers to be humble also to work with the winners to move the Party forward to retain power in Election 2008.

He said he would extend the olive branch to all and endeavour to work with President Kufuor and asked all to join in the Party's march to victory in 2008.

Mr Ntim described the outcome of the election as manifestation of the internal democracy of the Party, saying: "What happened would advance the cause of the NPP."

He promised he would not desert the NPP, but work closely with the new National Chairman.

Supporters of the winners went into spontaneous jubilation and danced to brass band music while others tooted their car horns to celebrate their victory.