General News of Sunday, 11 May 2008

Source: GNA

NPP MP retained to contest Amansie East seat

Kokofu (Ash), May 11, GNA- Mr Kofi Poku Adusei, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bekwai was on Saturday re-elected as the parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at its delegates congress held at Kokofu near Bekwai.

He polled 70 votes out of the 139 total ballots cast to beat Mr Joe Osei-Owusu, Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority who had 69 votes.

The election characterized by tension and tight security was conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC) in the presence of Ashanti Regional Executives of the NPP led by its chairman, Mr Yaw Amankwah. The election which was generally peaceful was nearly marred when the campaign team of Mr Osei-Owusu protested to the regional party executives that Nana Yaa Takyiwaa from Adankrangya was not properly registered as a delegate.

However, the regional and the constituency executives managed to calm down the situation.

Mr Amankwah advised delegates and supporters of the NPP to bury their differences and map out campaign strategies to enable the party to win the 2008 Election.

Mr Poku Adusei thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work harder to bring more development projects to the constituency if retained as MP.

The campaign team of Mr Osei-Owusu as at the time of filing this report had lodged an official complaint with the regional party secretariat challenging the eligibility of Nanan Takyiwaa to vote and also why the sitting MP was allowed to vote.