The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Harona Esseku,has stated that the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency primary would now be held on August 29, 2004 notwithstanding any circumstances.

He said the party could not afford to postpone the primary again because time was running out for the party to have its full complement of candidates prior to the date that the Electoral Commission (EC) had fixed for the filing of nominations.

Mr Esseku who in an interview in Accra said the party was of the view that the two week period from now to the new date for the primary would be enough for Mr George Isaac Amoo, the incumbent MP to recover.He stated that the party would not entertain any excuse from any quarters, adding that whether a candidate was around or not the primary would go on.

He said the Steering Committee of the party had set aside the resolution passed by the delegates at last Sunday?s primary to the effect that Mrs Frema Osei-Opare was their candidate.Mr Esseku explained that the resolution was considered null and void because earlier, the regional executive and Mr Lord Commey, National Organiser of the party had informed the delegates of Mr Amoo?s hospitalisation and noted that it was not morally right to hold the primary.

He added that Mr Amoo and Mrs Osei-Opare,a development consultant were vetted and cleared to contest the primary and he wrote a letter in his capacity as National Chairman to endorse last Sunday?s primary.Mr Esseku added that when it however became obvious that the primary could not be conducted because of Mr Amo?s hospitalisation, the regional executive made it clear to the constituency delegates but the executive defied the directive.

It will be recalled that the primary to elect the NPP parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso West Wuogon was marred by confusion when it was announced that the voting could not come off because Mr Amoo has been hospitalised.

That infuriated most of the candidates and supporters of the other candidate, Mrs Osei-Opare, who insisted that they were tired of the protracted delay in conducting the primary and would want to have it done, once and for all.

One of the delegates, Mr Kwame Asaho Adjei, moved the motion that a resolution should be passed. That was seconded and passed, signed by 47 out of the 55 delegates present.They resolved that due to the persistent failure of the regional executive to hold the primary and the failure of Mr Amoo to attend the primary and other meetings, they had all given their support and vote to Mrs Osei-Opare.