Mankessim (C/R), Oct. 17, GNA - Mr Felix Nyarko-Antwi, Vice Chairman of the Nfantseman West Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has advised members to avoid utterances, which could discourage newcomers from joining the party.

Mr Nyarko-Antwi said the situation where old members looked down upon newcomers should stop, "as politics is a game of number and the votes of both old and new members are of the same value". He said the old members alone were unlikely to provide the 50 per cent plus one vote needed to win the election.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Mankessim, the constituency Vice Chairman appealed to the leadership of the party to ensure that prompt action was taken on matters concerning defections from the party to ensure that all misunderstandings were resolved to make the defectors to rescind their decisions.

"Each and everyone's vote counts, therefore as much as possible the party should try to avoid defections". Mr Nyarko-Antwi stated. He called on the leadership of the party to issue stern warnings to persons who used radio phone-ins programmes to discredit some of the party's presidential aspirants, saying if these things did not stop, "we will be providing our opponents with 'ammunition' to shoot at us should a discredited aspirant win the race".

"Whether short or tall, ugly or handsome, we need someone who can deliver and we must all support whoever is chosen". He appealed to the media to create a level playing field for all the candidates by desisting from publishing stories, which could favour one as against the others.

Mr Nyarko-Antwi commended President John Agyekum Kufuor for clearing the air over his perceived support for a particular aspirants and appealed to party executives to remain neutral.