Upper East NPP calls for Primaries in Garu-Tempane

Bolgatanga, Sept. 20, GNA - The Upper East Regional Executive of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the weekend urged the Party's Executive to rescind its earlier decision and call for primaries in the Garu-Tempane constituency as soon as possible.

Speaking at a press conference in Bolgatanga, Mr.Godfrey Koyiba, Regional Secretary of the NPP, indicated that the recent announcement by the Party's National chairman to the effect that the independent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr. Joseph Akudibilla, should stand on the Party's ticket unopposed did not reflect the will of the majority of the constituents and, therefore, had the potential to alienate the people from the Party.

He recalled similar moves by the National Democratic congress (NDC) in that constituency in the run-up to the 2000 general election, which culminated in the defeat of the NDC's favourite candidate by Mr. Akudibilla, who was then the people's choice.

"If we fail to learn from this historical fact we would only have ourselves to blame for whatever may happen tomorrow," he cautioned, adding, "We say this not on any basis other than the realities on the ground and what we have gathered from consultations with the Garu-Tempane constituency executives".

The Secretary also condemned alleged brutalities meted out to party supporters from the constituency who tried to express their disapproval of the decision adopted by the National Executive, and called for an investigation into the incident.

Mr. Koyiba said that upon hearing the National chairman's declaration, NPP supporters from Garu-Tempane set out on a trip to Bolgatanga to present a petition to the Party's Regional secretariat, but that they were intercepted at Bawku by a team of police and military personnel who subjected them to severe beatings.

"We seriously call for an investigation into the cause of this wanton and indiscipline behaviour of the soldiers and police", he emphasized.

Mr. Koyiba further conveyed the sympathy of the Regional Executive to the affected party supporters, some of whom, he said, had been hospitalised as a result of the beatings and wished them a speedy recovery.

Other members of the Regional Executive present at the conference were Alhaji Seidu Sumani, first Vice Chairman, Mr. Mahmud Mahama, Regional Organiser and Mr. Mohammed Tahiru Nambe, Regional Youth Organiser.

Meanwhile, the Regional Minister, Mr. Mahami Salifu, has dismissed as untrue and unfounded, allegations that he issued orders to the security personnel to prevent the supporters from getting to Bolgatanga.