More than 1,000 members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Atiwa and Abuakwa constituencies in the East Akim District are reported to have defected en masse to the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Speaking on behalf of the defectors who were introduced at a rally at New Tafo, Mr Nimako Dankwa, former chairman of the New Tafo Mangoase branch of the NPP, claimed that the party in the Abuakwa and Atiwa constituencies were not being run on democratic principles. He said when they tried to call the party to order some people who thought the party belonged to them decided to beat them. Mr. Dankwa gave the assurance that he and his group would work hard to ensure that the NDC wins the next elections in the two constituencies. Welcoming the defectors, Mr John Owusu-Amankrah, Eastern Regional chairman of the NDC, said members of the party lived in peace and love and urged them to live in harmony with those they came to meet. He said there was no "scramble for positions in the party" and that people were given appointments on merit. He called on the people to support the NDC to ensure the rapid development of the Akyem traditional area. Dr Obed Asamoah, Attorney General and Minister of Justice referred to the series of defections and predicted a victory for the NDC in the 2000 presidential and parliamentary elections. He said the NDC won the 1992 and 1996 elections because it always resisted attempts to draw it into polemics of the past and rather concentrated on its efforts on development and poverty alleviation in the country. Dr. Asamoah said the political history of the country indicated that the people of Ghana had "condemned NPP permanently to be in opposition and so the only means by which members of that party could see their ideas implemented in the country was by joining the NDC which is the winning party. He assured the defectors that the NDC would always keep faith with people who keep faith with it.
More than 1,000 members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Atiwa and Abuakwa constituencies in the East Akim District are reported to have defected en masse to the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Speaking on behalf of the defectors who were introduced at a rally at New Tafo, Mr Nimako Dankwa, former chairman of the New Tafo Mangoase branch of the NPP, claimed that the party in the Abuakwa and Atiwa constituencies were not being run on democratic principles. He said when they tried to call the party to order some people who thought the party belonged to them decided to beat them. Mr. Dankwa gave the assurance that he and his group would work hard to ensure that the NDC wins the next elections in the two constituencies. Welcoming the defectors, Mr John Owusu-Amankrah, Eastern Regional chairman of the NDC, said members of the party lived in peace and love and urged them to live in harmony with those they came to meet. He said there was no "scramble for positions in the party" and that people were given appointments on merit. He called on the people to support the NDC to ensure the rapid development of the Akyem traditional area. Dr Obed Asamoah, Attorney General and Minister of Justice referred to the series of defections and predicted a victory for the NDC in the 2000 presidential and parliamentary elections. He said the NDC won the 1992 and 1996 elections because it always resisted attempts to draw it into polemics of the past and rather concentrated on its efforts on development and poverty alleviation in the country. Dr. Asamoah said the political history of the country indicated that the people of Ghana had "condemned NPP permanently to be in opposition and so the only means by which members of that party could see their ideas implemented in the country was by joining the NDC which is the winning party. He assured the defectors that the NDC would always keep faith with people who keep faith with it.
