Kumasi, Jan 28, GNA- Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, an aspiring presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has appealed to members of the party to pray fervently to God to give them a leader who would unite and lead it to retain power in the 2008 general elections. He said peace and unity in the party were crucial to a resounding victory in the 2008 elections.

Dr Apraku made the appeal at the end of year get-together of the Ashanti Regional constituency organisers of the party in Kumasi on Saturday.

He advised the organisers not to engage in activities that could undermine the chances of any of the presidential aspirants or any member of the party, but rather concentrate their efforts on how to ensure that their opponents did not win power.

Dr Apraku urged them to educate the electorate on the laudable policies and programmes of the government in order to win more members for the party.

Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, said organisers were crucial and plays a responsible role in every association.

He said a victory for the NPP in the 2008 elections would depend largely on them, and advised them to always remember that the rise or fall of the party was in their hands.

Mr Owusu-Ansah said there would be divergent views and opinions among members and advised them to discuss issues dispassionately to maintain the unity of the party at all times.

He urged them to accept and receive all the presidential aspirants who come to campaign for votes warmly in order to promote unity. Mr Sam Cudjoe, Ashanti Regional Secretary of the party, who chaired the function, warned the organisers against constituting themselves as a pressure group to promote the interest of a particular candidate and imposing him on the party.

He said the party would not allow any group to foment trouble and undermine its unity.

Mr Cudjoe appealed to members to always protect the image of the party to ensure victory in the 2008 elections.