NDC Executives defect to NPP

Krobo (B/A), Sept. 29, GNA - Four Executive Members of National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Offuman Zongo in Techiman Municipality have defected to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) because of the impressive development projects the Government has undertaken in the northern part of the country.

They are Alhaji Deberu Dogo, Chairman; Mr Bawa Tang, Secretary; Mr Isaku Kasim, Organiser and Alfred Owusu, Treasurer.

Madam Seelewa Modesta of Krobo Zongo also announced her defection to the ruling party.

Alhaji Dogo on behalf of his colleagues announced the defection at the inauguration at Krobo of an 11-member executive of the Nasara Club of the NPP in Techiman North constituency.

He said the electorate was impressed with the massive development carried out by the NPP administration in the northern part of the country, "this has given the NPP a brighter chance of annexing more seats there in the December elections".

Alhaji Fuseini Miga, National President of the Club, dismissed as lies the assertion some political parties that NPP government was favouring only Asantes.

"Such vilifications and lies cannot help the NDC to come back to power and they better adopt decent strategies because President Kufuor is the first to appoint a Northerner as his vice", he said.

Refuting the allegation, he emphasized that the PNDC/NDC for the 20 years in power could not implement any significant policy that led to an improvement in the lives of Ghanaians, especially the Muslim community. He called on Muslims in the Zongos to guard against being used by opposing politicians to engage in unnecessary conflicts in the run up to Election 2004.

"The NPP has a track record as a peaceful and Democratic Party under the able leadership of President Kufuor and will never engage in violence before, during and after the polls", Alhaji Miga said. The Nasara President urged the Club's Eexecutives and members to link their activities with other members of the Party in the constituency to whip up support from the electorate to enable the Party's candidate for the constituency to win convincingly.

Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways, said the days of the NDC were numbered "and there will be a time that their supporters and members will feel ashamed to identify themselves so".

He urged the Executives of the Club to remain steadfast, as they were the pillars on which the Party structures and the Constituency Executives were built, to ensure an 80 per cent victory in the December elections.

The Minister, who is the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Constituency, advised members of the NDC to use decent but not abusive and insulting language on their campaign platforms.

He implored NPP members and supporters to tolerate divergent views to ensure peace and progress in the Constituency and in the country as a whole.

Mr Isaac Osei-Antwi, Techiman Municipal Chief Executive, who presided, emphasized: "The days of lies, intimidation, violence and abuse of human rights are over."

He said the good works of the NPP Government within the three-and- a-half years were enough to secure the mandate of Ghanaians to return it to power.

Alhaji Haruna Abdulai, Chairman of the 11-member Executive pledged to work hard to win more people into the Party to ensure total victory in this year's elections.