Ho, Nov. 14, GNA - Thirty-two activists of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from the Nkwanta South constituency in the Volta Region, who claimed they swore an oath never to leave the NDC to join another party on Monday, travelled 250 kilometres to Ho to announce their defection to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The activists include a founding member of the NDC, Nana Kofi Ansah, and other executives of the party from the ten ethnic groupings in the Nkwanta District.

The defectors pledged to contact traditional authorities to help them to revoke the oath that they took.

Mr Martin Nkpentey, the spokesman of the defectors stated that their defection from the NDC was on principles and not as being opportunistic. He said democracy was about freedom of choice and joining a party that one was convinced could best meet his developmental needs.

Mr Nkpentey said the group had therefore come to the realization that they needed to adjust their position.

He praised the government for its stronger commitment to the development of the Nkwanta District.

" The current development projects, including the Jasikan-Kadjebi-Damanko trunk road being undertaken in the district is a clear testimony of how the NPP has come to help those of us living in the rural areas ".

They assured the government that they would leave no stone unturned to enable the NPP to win the Nkwanta South constituency parliamentary seat in addition to that of the North in the next elections.

Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister said politics was about development and that, if everybody in the region could see it as such, the region could have been developed.

He said his government was considering the creation of another district within the Nkwanta District to speed up development of the area. On the defection, Mr Dzamesi said Nkwanta South Constituency had made history, adding, "It is the greatest thing that has ever happened in the region. I hope other constituencies in the region will follow". He assured the people that the government would leave no stone unturned to improve the road network, education, health, electricity and telephone facilities in the district.

Present were Mr Joseph Nayan, Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North and the Deputy Regional Minister and Joseph Kweku Denteh, Nkwanta District Chief Executive. Nov. 14, 05