NDC, NPP elect candidates in Jaman and Sampa

Drobo (B/A), Aug. 1, GNA - Mr. Ahmed Shams, a member of the Chartered Institute of Administration was at the weekend endorsed by all the 65 delegates as the NDC parliamentary candidate for the Jaman-South Constituency in Brong-Ahafo. He was the only candidate in the primaries conducted by officials of the Electoral Commission at Drobo.

Mr. Shams said his confirmation amply demonstrated that Jaman District was an NDC stronghold and "was only given out on loan" to NPP in the 2000 elections. The candidate, a former tutor of the Drobo Secondary School and a key member of NDC flag bearer Professor John Atta Mills' campaign team urged party faithful to translate their support into massive votes in the general election.

"My vision for the constituency is Jaman first in all our endeavours towards peace, unity in diversity and development", he added. Mr. Shams said as an MP he would ensure fairness to all in the area and concentrate on youth development through agriculture and promote education and health. He appealed to supporters of the party in the constituency to eschew violence, abusive and intemperate language during campaigns, saying, "all our submissions must be civil and decorous". Present were Mr. Kwabena Anane Agyei, Brong-Ahafo Regional NDC Research Officer and a four-man executive of the NPP in the constituency

Dr. Oti Adinkra, 56, a senior lecturer at the Ghana School of Law was elected at the NPP primaries at Sampa to contest the Jaman North parliamentary seat. He polled 32 votes to beat Mr. Stevens Siaka, Managing Proprietor of Kaspie Memorial School at Sampa who had 28 votes, Mrs. Elizabeth Oba, a teacher at Nafana Secondary School, 26 votes and Mr. Martin Asabere Opoku-Fei, an accountant at the Agriculture Vocational School, Sampa, seven votes. The election was conducted and supervised by the officials of the Electoral Commission.

Dr. Adinkra said his man focus, as an MP would be to promote education and agriculture to help improve the living standards of the people. He stressed, however, that he could not attain his aim without peace and harmony in the area and entreated the people to bury differences and unite to accelerate development. Dr. Adinkra commended his challengers for honourably conceding defeat and urged them to rally behind him to enable him to win the parliamentary seat in the December polls.

Earlier in a welcoming address, Mr. Ofori Asubonteng, Jaman District Chief Executive, noting that the constituency was an NDC stronghold called on party members to work hard to woo more members for the NPP to enable it to win the seat. Mr. Kofi Darko, Regional Organiser and Mr. Anthony Kofi Kusi, Regional Secretary, advised members and supporters to eschew negative practices that would deter people from joining the party.