Akwatia, May 25, GNA - A section of members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Akwatia in the Eastern Region have threatened not to vote for the parliamentary aspirant of the party during the December elections.

They explained that their decision was based on the way the entire Akwatia constituency executives openly supported Dr Kofi Asare to win the recent constituency primaries.

The members of the party who issued the threat are supporters of Mr Philip Owusu-Ankomah, the candidate who lost the primaries and they argued that the constituency executive were not supposed to support any of the contestants for the primaries but they openly expressed their support before the primaries.

This came to light at a meeting held by the supporters of Mr. Owusu-Ankomah at Akwatia on Friday but Mr. Owusu-Ankomah himself was not at the meeting

The group had originally decided to hold a demonstration to express their position but on hearing of the intentions of the group, the Kwaebibirem District Chief Executive, Mr. Yaw Yiadom-Boakye, rushed to Akwatia to hold a crisis meeting with the leadership of the group.

Mr Yiadom-Boakye told newsmen at the end of the closed-door meeting that he had impressed upon the group of the need for a united front for the party to win both the parliamentary and presidential elections in the constituency.

When the group leadership met the rank and file, it became evident that whereas they have all decided to vote for the party's Flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, some of the members said they would vote for the independent parliamentary aspirants, Mr Basil Ahiable, or not vote at all in the parliamentary elections.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Edward Apeadu, a former constituency secretary and chairman of the Owusu-Ankomah's campaign team said the way the constituency executives conducted themselves prior to the primaries was a recipe for the party to lose.

He said unless the Regional and National executives intervened within a week, not only would they advise themselves during the elections but they would go ahead with their planned demonstration. The constituency secretary, Mr Joe Danso denied the allegations by the aggrieved group that the whole constituency executive campaigned for Dr. Asare.

He appealed to the group to reconsider their stand since as party members, it would be in their best interest to ensure the victory of the party. May 25, 2008