Suhum, April 4, GNA - The Member of Parliament (MP) for Suhum, Mr Fredrick Opare-Ansah, has said that if given the nod to contest for the seat on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ticket in 2012, he would work hard to increase the votes of the NPP in the area. Mr Opare-Ansah, Minority Chief Whip, who is seeking the nod of delegates on April 30 this year, to represent the NPP in the Suhum Constituency for the third conservative time, entered Parliament in 2004 and retained the seat in 2008.

The MP in an interview with GNA at Suhum at the weekend, said considering his performance at Parliament over the past six years, he was optimistic that he would get the nod to represent the party. Mr Opare-Ansah said he would ensure that the NPP retained the seat. He said that though there had been challenges coupled with efforts by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to wrestle the seat from the NPP, he was committed to ensuring that remained a permanent seat for NPP. The minority chief whip called on all NPP functionaries in the area to ensure that they play their part respectively to help in achieving the big aim for the party.

Mr Opare-Ansah expressed concern about tension and acrimony that characterized the Parliamentary primary in 2008 and said that situation had given the constituency a bad image as one of the political trouble spots. He said though peace and unity had returned to the party after the 2008 election, it behooved every party member to work harder to prevent such situation from recurring. Mr Opare-Ansah said since he became MP for the area, he had undertaken projects to improve education, health, sanitation, roads, electrification in the area. He called on the people to unite for the development of the area.