Ayawaso West Wugoon NPP re-elect Frema-Opare

Accra, May 18, GNA - Mrs Akosua Frema-Opare incumbent NPP Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wugoon Constituency on Sunday defeated old foe Mr George Isaac Amoo for the second consecutive time to represent the Constituency for Election 2008 amidst protestation.

At the close of balloting, Mrs Frema-Opare, Deputy Minister for Manpower Youth and Employment obtained 42 votes representing 59.2 per cent as against 29 votes representing 40.8 per cent by Mr Amoo, Former Director of National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).

The total valid votes cast were 71, there was no rejected ballot. Mr Baldwin Freeman, Ayawaso Sub-Metropolitan Electoral Officer who supervised the election at the Extra-Ordinary Constituency Delegates Congress disclosed this to Ghana News Agency in Accra.

The election was characterized by numerous electioneering dramas as supporters of both candidates exhibited over zealousness to defend the interest of their candidate.

First was the vociferous challenge of the 2005 electoral list that was used for the election, followed by protestation against the disqualification of four delegates leading to temporal hold-ups. The few police personnel at the congress held at Dzorwulu Junior High School ensured that sanity prevailed.

Mrs Frema-Opare urged Ghanaians to tolerate the views of their political opponents to sustain peace and stability in the country. "Political campaign should be considered as platforms for marketing ideas to woo the electorate therefore, it would be worthwhile to listen to all the contestants for the electorate to choose the best among them," she told GNA.

She said: "We must be tolerant with each other because all the contestants are seeking the good of the nation and its interest must be placed above any other consideration."

Mrs Frema-Opare cautioned the electorate to differentiate between falsehood and facts as some politicians were determined to spread lies to achieve their goals with others preaching peace but inciting violence.

She pledged to lead the Party to win massively in the Constituency, "I would work hard in collaboration with all and sundry, especially the foot soldiers, constituency executives and the electorate to ensure that NPP achieves more than 60 per cent in both the Presidential and Parliamentary polls."

Mrs Frema-Opare appealed to Ghanaians to return the NPP Government to power to enable it continued with its developmental programmes nationwide.

Mr Omari Wadie, Ayawaso West Wugoon Constituency Chairman of NPP described Mrs Frema-Opare as the best candidate for the Constituency and urged activists, supporters and sympathisers to mobilize for the Party to retain the seat.

"The intra-party election is over we must unit to fight the Election 2008 battle on a common ground as we have a common agenda and political antagonist, the opposition parties.

"The enemy is not within, so we should stop the intra-party fights, it would only give our political opponents advantage over us," he said.

Mr Amoo who gracefully conceded defeat congratulated Mrs Frema-Opare, who defeated him during Election 2004 constituency primaries and pledged his loyalty to the Danquah-Busia Tradition of the NPP.

He denied that he was sacked as Director of NADMO because of financial malpractices, saying; "I challenge anybody who claims I embezzled money to cause my arrest immediately.

"The rumours were political propaganda to tarnish my image and political career. I never misapplied any funds...am ready and available to face the faceless detractors."

Mr Lord Commey, NPP National Organiser urged the teaming supporters of the Party to consider the interest and agenda of the party as the months roll steadily towards the December 7 polls.

He stressed the need for the NPP to guard against handing over power to the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). He said: "Opposition party never wins election but it is the ruling party through acts of omission and political mistake hand over power unconsciously to opposition party". 18 May 08