Offinso (Ash), Oct 29, GNA - Miss Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, the defeated National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate in the recent by-election held in Offinso South, has expressed her gratitude to the constituents for ensuring a peaceful election. She also thanked NDC supporters for their support, sympathy and the goodwill they exhibited throughout the electoral campaign. Miss Asamoah said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Offinso on Saturday.

She placed second in the by-election with 10,666 votes, representing 33.66 per cent of the 32,178 total votes cast, behind Dr Owusu Achaw Duah, a medical practitioner and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) elected Member of Parliament who had 20,763 votes, representing 65.52 per cent of the total votes.

Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Addai, a former Offinso District Chief Executive, who stood as an independent candidate had 177 votes representing 0.56 per cent and Madam Doris Appiah of the Democratic People's Party (DPP) who also obtained 84 votes representing 0.27 per cent.

Miss Asamoah said she had taken the defeat in good faith, explaining that incumbency played a decisive role in by-election. "Even though Offinso is a stronghold of the NPP, intimidation of NDC supporters and various nasty incidents perpetrated by the NPP contributed to my defeat," she alleged.

Miss Asamoah was highly optimistic that the NDC would win the 2008 general elections and called on the Party's supporters not to despair but rather unite and prepare adequately for the 2008 victory.