Gladys Asmah -running mate to Akufo Addo?

Accra, July 22, GNA- Mr Enock Kojo Kwakye, a leading Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the Council of Elders, Parliamentarians and Party faithfuls to give the nod to Mrs Gladys Asmah to partner Nana Addo Dankaw Akufo Addo as running mate in the December general election.

He said the choosing of Mrs Asamh, Member of Parliament for Takoradi and Minister for Fisheries, would strengthen and also poll more votes from the Central and Western Regions, which is the stronghold of the party.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency(GNA)in an interview in Accra on Monday to through more light on the Party's running mate , Mr Kwakye said Mrs Asmah has credible and capability, which gives her the opportunity to play central role in the upcoming electioneering campaign.

The Leading Member stated that Mrs Asmah could easily make it because, when the NPP was in opposition she was the Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament to Mr J.H. Mensah, who stood firm and struggled for the party to gain power in 2000.

He said the Minister for Fisheries gave the needed support to Mr J.H. Mensah as a woman, and helped the Party win power in 2000. Mr Kawkye noted that Mrs Asmah, when giving the nod would serve as a sacrificial lamb for only one term to help the party to perform 'magic' in the Central and Western Regions in the December general election, and after the first term she would bow out for someone else to take her place.

He said time has come for the NPP to break the record of always choosing running mate from the north and this year the mantle should be given to some body from the south.

Mr Kwakye pointed out that when Nana Akufo Addo chooses his running mate from any of the southern regions, supporters in the three northern regions would help the party to win in coming elections. He further stated that when Mrs Asmah was the Minister for Women and Children's Affairs more than 70 percent of Ghanaian women had their fair share of the national cake in the areas of business and trade, which improved social life of the women.

The Leading Member underscored that the discovery of Oil in the Western Region would also make a great impact if the nod was giving to Mrs Asmah, saying, the greatest number of vote would come from both the Central and Western regions to the party.

Mr Kwakye therefore appealed to the campaign directors and chairmen of Nana Akufo Addo to consider the position of Mrs Asmah to partner the NPP Flag Bearer, because she could poll more floating voters from the Greater Accra, Eastern, Volta, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions. 22 July 08