Disregard NDC's Claims - Mac Manu Tells NPP Supporters

The Western Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Peter Mac Manu, has called on the supporters of the party and the electorate as a whole, to disregard the NDC's claim that the ruling party had failed to fulfill its electoral promises.

According to him, though the NPP had been in power a little over three years, it had almost fulfilled all the promises it made to Ghanaians before the 2004 election, adding that the NDC had now become a desperate party, hence, the propaganda work it had resorted to, which would not be of benefit to them.

Speaking at the party's primaries held at Nvelenu to elect a parliamentary candidate for the Jomoro constituency last Tuesday, Mac Manu said the Kufuor administration had now equipped the Police Service with vehicles to enable them provide adequate security for all Ghanaians.

He noted that the then opposition NPP also promised to upgrade at least one secondary school in each district to a higher level, which the government had already started implementing. The National Health Insurance Scheme had also almost started operation. The people of Jomoro had, as well, now started receiving television reception.

Mac Manu told the delegates that although the government had fulfilled all these promises, the NDC claimed it had done nothing. As the party functionaries seemed to be saying, they, as leaders of the NPP, would not be bothered because what they had done were visible to all.

"Let me tell you; NDC is now a desperate party so they would be going round saying so many things about our great party. Please don't mind them. You just concentrate on your party organization because the election is going to be won at the polling stations," he said.

The regional chairman further said the NDC was not a party that could boast of structures which were essential for party organization. He alleged that when the NDC was in power, it was being run from the district and the regional offices and they were now paying dearly for it.

Mac Manu further noted that contrary to the claim being made by Prof. Mills, it was President Kufuor and the NPP that brought peace and stability into this country. He gave the assurance that the NPP would not do anything to mar the peace and stability that the country was enjoying now, adding that they were going to ensure free and fair elections.

"Our president is respected worldwide, so we will not do anything that will tarnish his reputation and that of our party's," he said.

The regional chairman promised the 162 delegates that the necessary logistics that would make them mobile and effective would be put at their disposal to enable them embark upon effective campaign to dislodge Mr. Lee Ocran, who was contesting the seat on the ticket of the NDC.

The organizer of the party, Mr. Kojo Acquah, after comparing the former and the current voter register, said the NDC had never won any genuine election in Ghana.

He reiterated their earlier promise that the NPP was going to win all but two constituencies in the region, saying the NDC had no chance in the Western Region this year.

In the election itself, Mr. Anthony Ransford Tandoh, the bank manager of the Jomoro Rural Bank pooled 88 votes to beat his only challenger, Joseph Whajah, a teacher, who pooled 73 votes.

Because of the apparent assurance given to him by the delegates, Joseph Whajah called for recounting of the votes when his supporters told him that he had lost during the first counting of the votes.

When the second counting confirmed the earlier one, he accepted the results and promised to work closely with Mr. Andoh, the winner to capture the seat from the NDC.