Gomoa Debiso (C/R), Oct 7, GNA - Mr Joe Donkoh, an Accra based businessman was on Friday, elected as the new Chairman of the Gomoa West constituency branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at a delegates congress at Debiso.

He polled 83 votes to beat Mr Ben Afful, the incumbent who had 33 votes in the election supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC). The election was delayed due to a misunderstanding and tension as the old executive claimed that Mr Donkoh did not qualify to contest the election.

They claimed that since Mr Donkoh crossed carpet from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to join the NPP the delegates should reject him.

Dr Kweku Ghartey, Central Regional Chairman of the NPP, had to intervene and called for a referendum by the delegates either to agree or refuse Mr Donkoh from contesting and he was unanimously approved. Madam Akua Gyamfiwah took the position of first Vice Chairman; Mr George Bondzie won the second Vice Chairman position while the post of Secretary went to Mr George Alexander Sarfo and Mr Fiifi Buabeng winning the position of Assistant Secretary.

Mr Joshua Aihon took the position of Organiser, Ms Evlyne Sarkwa, Women's Organiser, Mr Stephen Forson, Youth Organiser, Mr Isaac Essuman, Treasurer and Mr Isaac Mensah, Financial Secretary. Addressing the delegates after the elections, Dr Ghartey urged supporters of the party to refrain acts that could bring the NPP into disrepute.

He called on the party functionaries to bury their differences to enable them to attract more members especially floating voters for the party to win the 2008 general elections. Mr Donkoh pledged to work with the old executive to ensure peace and development in the party.

He explained that he joined the NPP because he wanted to bring more development to the area especially in the areas of education, health and sanitation, roads and poverty alleviation.