Mame-Krobo (E/R), Jan. 12, GNA - Mr Raphael Kofi Ahaligah, a 60-year-old farmer, has declared his intention to contest the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Afram Plains South Constituency primaries slated for June.

Announcing this at Mame-Krobo on Sunday, Mr Ahaligah, who is also the first National Vice President of the National Union of Tree Growers Association of Ghana (NUTREGA), said his decision was based on popular request by a cross-section of the Party's supporters.

"The supporters have seen in me leadership qualities and the service I have been rendering to the development of the area such as the Mame Krobo Market, which is providing about 100 million cedis a month in revenue and the establishment of a sawmill at Kwamepong-Nkwanta, which has employed over 60 people."

Mr Ahaligah said being a farmers' spokesman in the area, he felt he had a special duty to promote their interest through Parliament. He said due to the "democratic culture now prevailing in the NDC, I have decided to offer myself as the most potent candidate the NDC needs to keep the seat in the 2004 elections" and appealed to delegates to the party's primaries to vote for him.

Mr Ahaligah stressed the need for unity among members of the party and urged all eligible persons to register as voters when re-registration opens.