Politics of Wednesday, 6 October 2004

Source: GNA

Churcher apologises, calls for strong campaign

Cape Coast, Oct 6, GNA - The MP for Cape Coast and the NPP candidate for the 2004 December elections, on Tuesday, apologised to members of the party for any wrongdoing against anyone.
Ms Churcher was speaking after the national executive of the NASARA Club of the party, had settled a dispute between two factions within the Cape Coast branch of the Club.
She pointed out that the NDC launched its national campaign at Cape Coast, because they realised that there was a "loophole" within the NPP in the constituency.
The MP urged members and supporters of the party, to close their ranks and work to retain the seat.
Ms Churcher expressed her gratitude to the Muslim community for their contribution to her success at the last elections and said they were "dear to her heart".
She said that with unity and hard work, the party would emerge victorious in the December general elections and stressed that the NPP administration had "sown something positive, which would soon be reaped for all Ghanaians to see".
Alhaji Meiga pointed out said the government had achieved a lot within its short term in office and said the NDC would never come back to power because it could not deliver, adding that, the party did nothing for the Muslim community when it was in power.
He said the economic woes of the country were the result of the bad legacy the NDC left for Ghanaians.
The dispute arose when the old executive reportedly took sides during the primary in the constituency and vowed to have nothing to do with the MP and the Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze.
On Tuesday, they also attempted to disrupt the inauguration of the new executives, which nearly turned the occasion into a brawl, claiming that they had not served their full term in office and were being forced out.
Peace was restored after a three-hour intervention by the national executives led by Alhaji Meiga and Ms Churcher.
Following a compromise both the old and new executives were merged to form an 18-member executive for the region.
The National Coordinator, Alhaji Tanko, inaugurated the 18-member executive, which later elected Mr Salisu Akilu, an educationist, as its Chairman.
Mr Mahamoud Yahaya, Chairman of the old executive, apologised on behalf of the members and said "the party is a tradition, a family", stressing that no matter their differences, no enemy should be allowed to infiltrate their ranks.