Hohoe (V/R), July 25, GNA - Mr Teddy Ofori, the Hohoe North Constituency Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and four other Constituency Executives of the Party have crossed over to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The rest were Mr Kofi Kusi, Secretary, Mr Joseph Kpendeh, Treasurer, Mr Helman Zanu, Alavanyo Branch Chairman and Mr Kofi Afari, Hohoe-South Constituency Chairman.

Mr Ofori, an Educationist, who recently lost the NDC Constituency primaries to Mr Peter Hayibor by 104 to 114 told a News Conference at Hohoe on Saturday that their defection was "divine ordained knowing that the NDC would again lose the December general election.

"We are aware our decision will incur the displeasure of the party (NDC) hierarchy and even create enemies for us but this is another opportunity to make new friends", he said, emphasising: "We are men of ourselves and free at anytime to associate ourselves with any grouping."

He said; "change is difficult but change is necessary for development. It must start with people like us in order to deliver our people from abject poverty, misery and disease".

He said their decision to join the NPP was an endorsement of the gains the Government had so far made especially in infrastructure development, economic empowerment, rule of law and the government's quest for an accelerated growth of all sectors of the economy.

Mr Ofori dismissed assertions that his defection was a protest against his failure to realise his ambition to be the NDC Parliamentary Candidate.

He also denied that he succumbed to financial inducements to defect and bring his supporters along with him into the NPP fold.

Mr Kpende said they did not defect with the expectation of being rewarded with Executive positions in the NPP rather they were ready to work assiduously until the NDC was dislocated in the Constituency and the Region at large.

He pledged the loyalty of the group to the NPP.

Mr James K. Dogbe, Hohoe District Chief Executive, said the exercise was a landmark achievement in the annals of the Party's organisation in the Region, "which further demonstrates that a new political storm was engulfing the Region."

He said the exploits, capabilities and abilities of the new members would be tapped to advantage saying: "In Politics victory is not won with quality but with numbers".