NDC wrestles more seats from the NPP in Central Region

Cape Coast, Dec. 9, GNA - National Democratic Congress (NDC) has caused a major upset in Central Region, by retaining its two incumbent seats and wrestling eight more from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in otherwise NPP regarded strongholds, and also winning the Presidential election, in 11 constituencies in the Region.

This brings to a total of 11 Parliamentary seats won by the Party on December 7.

During the 2004 election, NDC won just two of the 19 seats in the Region; in Twifo-Atti-Mokwaa by Mrs Elizabeth Amoah-Tetteh and Mfantseman East by Mr George Kuntu-Blankson, and lost the Presidential election in the Region, while NPP swept 16 Parliamentary seats and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, CPP Presidential Candidate for Election 2008 won the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) Constituency seat for his Party. With the results received so far from the 19 constituencies in the Region, the NDC has taken the Cape Coast, KEEA, Gomoa East and West, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and Mfantseman West, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, Effutu and Awutu/Senya Constituencies.

The NPP, has so far, been able to hold on to the Agona East and West, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Assin North and South, Upper Denkyira East and West and Hemang-Lower Denkyira Constituencies. Mr Sam Valis Akyianu, NDC Central Regional Chairman, commenting on the Party's performance, told GNA at Cape Coast on Monday that its success was due to discipline and leadership, by its Presidential Candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.

He said Prof. Mills had been accepted by people in the Region, "that he is well endowed with respect and is approachable".

On the Party's performance in the Cape Coast Constituency, which had been held by Ms Christine Churcher of the NPP since 1996, Mr Akyianu observed that people in the constituency had received the NDC's message of the need for them to be self-reliant well.

He pledged that "in the event of a Presidential win" for the Party, Prof. Mills would care for people in the Region as well as for all Ghanaians and "improve the environment".

Mr Dankwa Smith, NPP Central Regional Chairman, said the Party "was yet to find out why it lost those seats and cannot say more at the moment".