The Lower West Akim parliamentary candidate for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Eastern Region, Martin Bruce Opare has deserted the party and his whereabouts cannot be established by his party people in the constituency.

DAILY GUIDE sources at Asamankese said Mr. Opare, who used to visit his constituency regularly from his base in Burkina Faso where he was working with a mining firm, has not been seen in the constituency for a considerable period of time and his whereabouts could not be known by his party people, as all his phones were out of reach.

It was not known whether he took the sudden decision to abandon the NDC ship because of imminent defeat staring the party in the face or because of personal reasons.

The unfortunate development has shaken the foundation of the party in the Lower West Akim constituency because party executives have been trying to meet him and strategise for the general elections which were about two months away. Moreover, the fact that the flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo visited the constituency recently has completely eroded the fortunes of the NDC in the constituency.

DAILY GUIDE had information that the regional party executive members as well as the constituency executive members were locked up in a crunch meeting yesterday, October 1, on how to find a quick solution to the problem before the Electoral Commission opened nominations on October 15.

A constituency party executive member who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the story and expressed great concern over the situation.

The regional secretary of the party, Anthony Gyampoh when contacted on the story, denied any knowledge about such unfortunate development stressing that as a secretary, he had not received any correspondence on the issue because he had been indisposed for some time now and had therefore not been to the office.

The parliamentary candidate, Martin Bruce Opare beat three other contestants, Mrs. Kumah Mintah, Akuamoah Ofosu Boateng and Seth Otchere in their primary last January to stand on NDC ticket in the Lower West Akim constituency of the Eastern Region.