Legon, August 29, -- Mr Samuel Odoi-Sykes, a lawyer, was tonight elected National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Mr Odoi-Sykes, Member of Parliament for Ododiodoo in the Third Republic, polled 257 votes to beat Professor Fred Sai, former Chairman of the National Population Council who had 230 votes. Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, incumbent National Chairman, stepped down and did not contest the elections held at the annual delegates conference of the NPP at the main auditorium of the University of Ghana. The 487 delegates voted Ms Ama Busia, former third national vice-chairperson as first national vice-chairman after she topped a field of six contestants with 368 votes. Dr Wayo Seini, an agronomist, became the second national vice-chairman with 323 votes and dr Kweku Afreyie, medical doctor, third national vice-chairman with 292 votes.

The other contestants for vice-chairmanship, Mr Ray Kakraba Kwashie, lawyer, had 171 votes, Mr Kwabena Adejpong, civil engineer, 113, and Madam Mariama Yakubu Tali, business woman, 77 votes Mr Dan Botwe, former director of operations, caused an upset when he polled 363 votes to beat the incumbent, Mr Joseph Agyenim-Boateng to third place with 61 votes. Mr Ebenezer Kakra Esamoa, the other contest, polled 64 votes to place second. In closely fought race for the newly created post of National Organizer, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), a former military ranger, edged out Alhaji Issaka Inusah, achartered accounted by 245 votes to 243. The camp of Ahaji Inusah, who were not satisfied at the ouotcome of the result asked for a recount and when the results reamined the same, Alhaji Inusah embraced Major Quashigah (rtd) while congratulating him. Mr Kwesi Brew, a poest and former diplomat was elected unopposed as national treasurer when Alhaji Ahmed Osman, the other contestant withdrew. Mr Odoi-Sykes in his victory speech, called for unity among all ranks for the party to enable them to forge ahead to win the 2000 elections. Officials of the Electoral Commission conducted the elections at the confderence attended by two delegates each from the 200 constituencies, the NPP Parliamentary caucus, and the national council. The NPP will hold a special delegates congress next October to elect their presidential candidate for the 2000 elections. Gri..