Intense lobbying and jockeying have started for the Ashanti Regional Chairmanship of the NPP after several postponements. Three candidates – Fredrick Fredua Anto the incumbent chairman; Kwame Agyei, the first vice Chairman and Yaw Amankwaah are vying for the position.

The election of a regional chairman of the Ashanti Region is critical to the NPP since it is the region, which returned the highest number of votes to the party in the 2000 elections.

Behind the scenes, powerful blocks are at play with each trying to get its candidate elected as Regional Chairman. Kwame Agyei, the incumbent first Vice Chairman is considered the dark horse but he is the candidate who has been very visible on the campaign trial.

Meanwhile, allegations of embezzlement of party funds by some of the contestants are rife in the campaign and observers believe that the allegations could derail the chances of some of the candidates