Atiwa bye-election will determine Mills' popularity - Boateng

Sunyani (B/A) Aug. 27, GNA - Mr. Kofi Ofosu Boateng, Brong-Ahafo Regional Communications Officer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)on Friday said the Atiwa constituency parliamentary bye-election would be a test of faith in the President John Evans Atta Mills-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

"We are using this election as a test case to prove to the NDC and its cohorts that Ghanaians are fed up with them, considering the current economic hardships in the country", he said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), in Sunyani.

He advised supporters of the NPP in the constituency to avoid complacency and to ensure that they based their campaigns on issues devoid of inflammatory remarks on the contestants in the race.

The Atiwa constituency seat in the Eastern region became vacant following the sudden demise of Mr. Kwasi Annor Ankamah, NPP MP, for the area with necessitated the bye-election slated for Tuesday, August 31.

Mr. Boateng explained that despite the on-going allegations of vote buying and destructive tactics being perpetrated against supporters of the party by the NDC in the constituency, the NPP was poised not only to retain the seat but to gain more votes for Mr. Kwasi Amoako-Atta, the NPP candidate.

The communications officer attested to Mr. Amoako-Atta's political credentials as an Assembly Member for eight years and Presiding Member of Atiwa District Assembly as the person with the right credentials to retain the parliamentary seat for the NPP.

Mr. Boateng advised the NPP constituency executives, polling station executives as well as supporters to be vigilant on the day of the election and monitor the counting process in order not to create room for the NDC to manipulate and rig the election.

He called on the Eastern regional police command to beef up security in the constituency during and after to make the election free and fair devoid of intimidation and molestation.