NPP denies tension over DCE's nomination

Bibiani (W/R), July 11, GNA - The Bibiani Anhwiaso-Bekwai Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has denied reports that tension is building up in the Party over the nomination of Mr Kingsley Agyei-Manu as District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area.

The Party maintained that the President's nominee enjoyed massive support and goodwill not only among the rank and file of the NPP but also popular with the entire population of the District.

"As a development planner, who did his national service in the area and has served on the District Assembly as a government appointee, Mr Agyei-Manu is not a stranger to our people."

Mr Philip Nuako, the Constituency Chairman, was reacting to a statement attributed to one Mr Simon Kwaku Amoah, who styles himself as a founding member of the Party that sought to create the impression that the DCE's nomination had been met with widespread anger and dissatisfaction.

He said Mr Amoah, a Former Organiser of NPP, publicly announced his defection to the Convention People's Party (CPP) only few months to Election 2004 and could, therefore, not make statements in the name of the NPP.

"We only see this as an attempt not just to mislead but sow the seed of discord in our Party, something, he would never succeed to achieve."

Mr Nuako flatly rejected the claim that President John Agyekum Kufuor during his tour of the constituency in the run up to the Election 2004, declared that one Mr Kwadwo Awortwe-Nkansa, who contested and lost the Party's primaries to Mr Christopher Addai, the Member of Parliament (MP), would be appointed the DCE.

"Video recordings of the President's tour are there and they can be played back to expose this palpable lie."

The Constituency Chairman said though Mr Awortwe-Nkansa was the NPP's parliamentary candidate for the area in 1992, he became inactive and refused to have anything doing with the Party after he lost that election. He only resurfaced in 2004 when he realised the NPP was poised for re-election.

He called on all those who contested Mr Agyei-Manu for the DCE position but were not selected, to throw their weight behind him.