NDC 'Crowd Puller' Defects to NPP

An NDC stalwart and self-styled "crowd puller' has defected to the ruling New Patriotic Party.

In his nineteen-year affiliation with the NDC, Nana Benhene, aka America Man, was instrumental in securing an NDC victory at Kintampo in 2000.

According to the people in the area, Nana Benhene was very influential in the NDC's campaign machinery in outwitting the NPP during all elections held in the area.

In an interview with The Statesman, Mr. Benhene, whose defection was announced just about a fortnight ago, said he came along to the NPP with over 200 leading members of the NDC in the Kintampo North Constituency.

He accused the NDC of lack of internal democracy, vindictiveness, lies and violence which they have clearly demonstrated prior to the Sunday"s general elections.

The former constituency executive member said he will bring his crowd-pulling expertise into the NPP campaign plan in order to win more votes, especially from the NDC, to ensure a resounding victory for Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP candidate for the constituency, Awudulai Razak, come December 7.

He explained that his defection to the NPP was informed by the performance of the Kufuor Administration and the visionary leadership qualities of the Nana Akufo-Addo, whom he described as the best man for Ghana.

Mr. Benhene also accused the NDC of showing no sympathy towards his personal troubles whilst he remained a staunch member of the party.

According to him, he lost his daughter about a year ago, followed by the departure of his wife three months ago.

He said in all these, the leadership of the NDC failed to mourn with him and the family and left them to their fate. In his view, Ghanaians are fed up with the lies and intimidations of the NDC, under whose 19-year regime the good people of Ghana were subjected to real economic bondage.