Accra, Aug. 30, GNA - Mrs Frema Osei Opare, a Business Development Consultant, was on Sunday elected the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in the Greater Accra Region for Election 2004.
She polled 47 votes out of the total 64 votes cast, to beat the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Isaac George Amoo, who had 17 votes.
The much-awaited primary, which was twice postponed, was held at the premises of the Dzorwulu Junior Secondary School amidst tight security, with almost 100 Police personnel at post to guard against any eventualities.
The incumbent, Mr Amoo gracefully accepted defeat as he had earlier promised the delegates and observers at the congress.
Sounding more of a Pastor and quoting from the Bible, he said: "All things work together for the good of those who love God" and pledged his full support for the Party in the coming years, especially in ensuring that the Party retained power in December.
Mr Amoo, who prior to the elections in his manifesto recounted his contributions to the growth of the NPP and described himself as a founding member of the Party long before it registered as an opposition party in 1992, which he termed as the "era of intimidation".
He said through his efforts, the Constituency had gained an added value, particularly, in the social lives of the people.
He expressed regret that some of the people in the area were not appreciating his efforts at improving on infrastructure, admitting, he might have made mistakes by ignoring some areas in the developmental process, as a human being, which he needed to be forgiven.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs Opare first thanked God for the victory and commended her only challenger, Mr Amoo for his cooperation and acceptance of the results and pledged to spare no effort to ensure that NPP won both the Parliamentary and Presidential elections in the Constituency.
She said she stood for unity of purpose and the general development and welfare of the people especially, women and the youth in the area.
In her manifesto, Mrs Opare said most parts of the Constituency were deprived and needed to be provided with basic amenities, adding she was "going to ensure that we get an office of our own when I am given the mandate to serve you as your servant".
Mr Lord Commey, the National Organiser of the NPP, who together with other National and Regional Executives of the Party supervised the elections, said the Party would not be intimidated by events that had characterised primaries in various constituencies but would remain stronger.
He, therefore, charged the current generations, party members and supporters to protect the Party, which "has no alternative in the country".
He said: "Ghanaians have no alternative party to administer the State and we can not afford to loose that opportunity. We, therefore, have to be disciplined, committed, dedicated and tolerant of each other".
The Ayawaso District Electoral Officer, Mr Asirifi Young Guggisberg, commended the delegates for their general comportment, saying: "This election has gone on smoothly devoid of confusions and acrimonies contrary to what some people had anticipated".
Also present at the congress were Sheik Ibrahim C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister and Chief Superintendent Felix S. Fiati in-Charge of the Nima Police Division.
Chief Superintendent Fiati expressed happiness about the way the exercise went on smoothly devoid of any acrimony.