Medical practitioner elected Asokwa East NDC parliamentary candidate

Kumasi, Nov 2, GNA - Dr Adamu Gibiril Mohammed, a Kumasi-based private medical practitioner was on Saturday elected as the Asokwa East National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate to contest the 2004 general elections.

Dr Mohammed polled 204 out of the 220 votes cast to beat his only opponent, Alhaji Ahmed Abubakar, a local entrepreneur. Two of the ballots were rejected.

The election was held at the Asokwa East NDC delegates conference in Kumasi and supervised by official from the regional office of the Electoral Commission (EC).

The conference would also propose resolutions for discussion at the national congress and adopt workable campaign strategies towards the 2004 elections.

Addressing the conference prior to the elections, Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, a member of the National Executive Committee of the NDC, deplored the practice where some supporters of loosing candidates in constituency primaries, turn to either assault or rains insults at the winning candidate.

He cautioned them against such a practice, saying, "Such a habit does not augur well for the development of any party and should never be encouraged."

Mr Ohene Agyekum advised that instead of turning against the "winning candidate, they should rally round him and work as a team to make the party to win the general elections.

Mr Emmanuel Nti-Fordjour, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, made it clear that primaries were just the first step in regaining power, noting, "What was now left was effective campaign to ensure that the NDC wins the Asokwa East parliamentary seat.

"The fight for winning back the Asokwa East parliamentary seat might not be easy but with genuine commitment and hard work from individual members and the leadership, I am convinced we shall wrestle it from the NPP," he stressed.

Mr J.B. Boarle, constituency secretary, in a report said after monopolising the Asokwa East parliamentary seat for eight years, the NDC lost it to the NPP because of internal squabbles in the party at that time.

Dr Mohammed, the parliamentary candidate-elect, lauded the NDC for electing him and assured them of working relentlessly to win back the seat in 2004.