NPP Moves to Retain Amoateng's Seat

FORESEEING danger in the forthcoming bye-election in the Nkoranza North Constituency, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) continues to raise its presence in the constituency.

The Mac-Manu-led administration over the weekend stormed the Nkoranza North constituency to stage what the chairman of the NPP described as a reconciliatory meeting between the party and a fired member of the party, Prince Kwame Ofosu Adjei (who contested as an independent candidate during the 2004 general elections) and the chiefs of the area.

Prince Adjei is seen as a pillar of strength in the constituency and if measures were therefore not taken to bring him back into the fold of the NPP, things may not go well with the party in the impending constituency bye-election.

Prince Adjei, who was General Manager, Audit, at the Tema Oil Refinery, in 2004 decided to run as independent candidate, following a disagreement with his mother party, NPP.

He severally clashed with supporters of the eventual winner, Nana Eric Amoateng, the embattled Member of Parliament who is currently languishing in cells in the USA, having been busted and charged with dealing in drugs.

Setting the ball rolling in the marathon meeting with Prince Adjei and his followers including the chiefs, Mr. Mac-Manu told the gathering that the meeting was made possible after a successful deliberation with the former independent candidate.

Mr. Manu said since Adjei was present at the meeting, he was seeking permission from the chiefs to allow their own son to tell them what had taken place during the party's last meeting with him.

Without wasting any time, Prince Adjei stood up and announced to the gathering that he and the executives of the NPP had settled whatever differences existed between them and for that matter he was back with his mother party. This was greeted with a big applause from the chiefs and his supporters.

Speaking in Twi, Prince Adjei said, "Nananom; we are all aware there is a big fight ahead of us and if we do not come together to fight, it is likely some mishap may befall us and for that matter, I have decided to come back to my mother party, the NPP."

Responding to the 'prodigal son', Mr. Mac-Manu told the chiefs that since the party was run by a National Executive Council, he was conveying the outcome of the meeting to the executives so that proper modalities for re-admitting a member into the party could be followed.

The NPP chairman also urged followers of Prince Adjei to re-apply.

But this did not go down well with the chiefs, as they insisted that the chairman announced to them there and then whether or not their son had been accepted by the party.

The NPP chairman explained that if proper procedure was not followed, Prince Adjei may in future face some problems within the party.

He cited as an example Prof. Wayo Seini, whose recent return to the party from the NDC generated some internal problems because the NPP was unable to complete the processes of re-admitting him, making it impossible for the Professor to contest on the party's ticket.

He further disclosed that he was compelled to instruct the Northern Regional NPP to issue a statement calling on supporters in the professor's constituency to vote for Prof. Seini.

After this explanation, the chiefs numbering 14 then took turns to joyfully express their views about Prince's return to the NPP. Almost all of them, including the host chief, Nana Yefrihene, assured the NPP National Chairman and his regional and constituency executives from Brong Ahafo and Nkoranza North that they would rally behind the party to retain the seat if the whistle was blown to begin the battle at Nkoranza North.

The Yefrihene, Nana Osei Bonsu II, reacting to the chairman's comment, made reference to the Odododiodoo Constituency bye-election, suggesting that the son of the late MP who contested on the ticket of the NPP was not a card-bearing member of the party, but Mr. Mac-Manu refuted the allegation.

The Yefrihene assured the NPP chairman, who was accompanied by the local government Minister-designate, Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, that he would do all he could to campaign for the NPP.

He said even if he could beat a gong gong to assemble the constituents, particularly the farmers, to tell them something about farming and later infuse politics about voting