General News of Thursday, 6 May 2004

Source: GNA

I will unseat the Senior Minister--Nana Boahen

Sunyani, May 6, GNA - Nana Obiri Boahen, a leading member of the NPP and one of the six aspirants for the Sunyani East NPP constituency seat has stated that, he has put in enough mechanisms to unseat the Senior Minister, Mr. J. H Mensah, who is the incumbent Member of Parliament at the impending primaries.

"I have the youth who constitute the bulk of the support of the party in the area and this makes me the possible candidate to be elected to stand for the party in the December elections."

Nana Boahen who was speaking to newsmen about his chances however, called on all contestants of the party throughout the country to conduct their campaigns in an atmosphere of brotherliness and friendliness adding, " In all situations, let us make the interest of the party paramount".

He asked both regional and constituency executives to stay above suspicion, by being neutral and said those who think they would not be able to do so, should resign.

Nana Boahen suggested that the names of eligible voters during the primaries should be made available to all the contestants, at least one week to the time of constituency congresses to avoid any suspicion of foul play.

He advised the leadership of the party to investigate thoroughly reasons why some NPP members have decided to stand as independent candidates and come out with appropriate remedies to avoid a split in votes for the party.

Nana Boahen noted that it was not enough for the party to cease to recognise such people as its members and said all issues, which threaten the unity of the party should be nib in the bud.

On the party's chances to retain power in the 2004 elections, he stated that, the NPP has done enough to justify the confidence reposed in it and "the good people of Ghana who know where we have come from, will give us another mandate."

He added that even the opposition NDC acknowledges the uphill task before them in their quest to wrestle power from a government, which has been able to correct some of the economic mess they created during their tenure of office.

Nana Boahen appealed to NPP supporters countrywide not to sit on the fence but embark on house-to-house campaigns to explain the government's policies and programmes and what it has been able to achieve within its short time in office to the people.