Politics of Saturday, 24 July 2004

Source: GNA

NPP has made inroads in the Volta Region - Nuworsu

Ho, July 24, GNA - Mr Kenwuud Nuworsu, Volta Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Friday asserted that the political dynamics of the region have changed dramatically in favour of the party. "Today, our membership has become larger and attractive. Membership subscription now far outstripped available ID cards and people are very eager to pay dues and other special levies", he said.

Mr Nuworsu, who was speaking on the state of the party in the region and its preparations towards the December general elections at a Press Conference in Ho said, "our people are also discerning".

He said for the first time in the party's history in the region, over 65 people of high calibre applied to contest its 22 parliamentary seats. Mr Nuworsu said "from our recent strategic out-reach programmes and parliamentary primaries conducted across the region, it is clear that we have not only broken new grounds but we have also become the most popular political party in the region today."

He was optimistic that the party would cause major surprises in all the 22 constituencies in the region during the December elections, "the Volta Region used to be the stronghold of the NDC, but that is no longer going to be so."

Mr Nuworsu said every available resource would be marshalled towards the party's campaign in the region.

"As for issue of threats from the NDC, I wish to assure them that, even in opposition we were not intimidated", he said.

Mr Nuworsu said whereas the party in the region continued to resist the temptation to either reply to the threats or respond physically, it should be known that "violence is not the preserve of any particular group of people."

On the current stalemate in the election of Ho-Central Constituency Executives of the Party and the election of the constituency parliamentary candidate, Mr Nuworsu said the impasse itself was a reflection of how the party had become attractive to people who hitherto shied away from it.

He said, however, that the party's constitution and stand on discipline would not be compromised for the sake of numbers.

Mr Nuworsu said the party had been able to surmount such problems in the past especially close to elections.

He said it was, however, not binding on the party to put up parliamentary candidates in every constituency in the country.

He said the party had so far secured parliamentary candidates for 19 out of the 22 constituencies in the region, while that for Krachi-West would be elected on Tuesday July 27, and Akan later in the year while that of Ho Central "is on hold."