Suhum NPP supporters to vote "skirt and blouse"

Suhum (E/R), Oct. 24, GNA - Some supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the Suhum constituency have threatened to vote "skirt and blouse" in this year's general election.

According to them their decision was to teach the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party some bitter lessons for imposing NPP's Mr Fredrick Opare Ansah, incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) on them. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Suhum on Thursday ahead of the party's presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo's visit to the area, one of the group members who gave his name as Kwadwo Adjei said it was unfortunate for the NEC to allow Mr Opare Ansah to be their candidate without going by the party's constitution. According to him they would vote massively for Nana Akufo Addo for the presidency and vote for an independent candidate as an MP. "It is unfortunate that our party, which was noted for its democratic principles failed to allow democracy to prevail in this constituency".

He said recently NEC sent two different groups of people to access the popularity of Mr Opare Ansah and his main challenger, Mr Bryan Acheampong.

Mr Adjei said the outcome of that fact finding available to them indicated that the constituents had lost confidence in the incumbent MP and wanted a different person to lead them. "We could not believe it when it was announced that the MP had been given the nod by NEC to lead the party in this year's general elections".

He said they would be comfortable with an independent candidate than Mr Opare Ansah as candidate.

The group also accused the constituency executive, especially the chairman, Mr Andrews Yaw Adu and some regional executive for bringing "more troubles and divisions" into the party. Mr Adjei cautioned them to desist from such behaviours since it would destroy the party than unite it.

The Suhum constituency of the NPP for sometime now had experienced disturbances as a result of failure of congress to elect a parliamentary candidate after three consecutive attempts.

The NEC of the NPP subsequently gave Mr Opare Ansah the go ahead to contest the parliamentary election, which has brought a lot of agitations among the rank and file of the party in the constituency.