Cape Coast (Central Region) -- The campaign team of the former Minister of Finance, Dr Kwesi Botchwey who is vying for the flagbearership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), suffered its first jolt at Cape Coast.

At a meeting held by Dr Botchwey and his team with party functionaries to solicit their support to win the flagbearership position, a number of supporters belonging to the Mills camp attempted to scuttle the meeting. The placard-bearing supporters mostly from Ntsin, a suburb of Cape Coast, led by "Uncle Toss" were on their way to the meeting place when they were stopped in their tracks.

Some of the placards read "Mills is for Central Region," "Dr Botchwey, don't divide Central Region," "Dr Botchwey throw your few votes behind Prof Mills" and "Central Region is united for Mills."

Before they could cause any commotion, the Central Regional Youth Organiser of the party, Adams Kofi, confronted them and after some verbal exchanges prevented them from entering the meeting place.

He explained that none of the two contestants called for confrontation in their campaign and therefore described the action of the youth as an uncounted behaviour. The Youth Organiser said that the supporters were disgruntled elements that were not needed in the party, pointing out that their action was a disgrace to the party.

However, the supporters on their part explained that Prof Mills was key to the party's quest to recapture power in the 2004 elections. "This is not a matter of war but democracy", one of them declared.

Earlier, Dr Botchwey told the party functionaries that he did not come to create division and destroy the party, but to seek for its progress to ensure that the party wins the 2004 elections. He said that the party needed a new focus and sense of direction to attain its future goals and therefore, urged the members to rally behind him for the success of the party.

Although the two contestants are at par with each other, calling for unity of purpose among the rank and file of the party, irrespective of who may win the flagbearership position, some followers and supporters think otherwise.

Mike Gizo, Campaign Team Manager of Dr Botchwey, called for unity and love among the members of the party. The regional chairman of the party, Dr Ato Quarshie was conspicuously absent from the function. -