The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, who is also Member of Parliament for Subin in Kumasi, Hon Sampson Kwaku Boafo, says he will not seek re-election in this year's polls.

He said after serving as MP for the constituency on three consecutive occasions, he felt it was time for him to give others the opportunity to also serve with new ideas.

The Minister, who has served the constituency since January 7, 1997 told DAILY GUIDE in Accra yesterday that his decision was not borne out of any pressure from anywhere, and was a purely personal one.

Mr. Boafo said despite his decision not to contest, he would be available for any type of assistance any New Patriotic Party (NPP) member who would be ready to contest might need.

He said he hoped that his successor would continue the good projects he initiated in the constituency, especially scholarship schemes for brilliant but needy students.

Mr. Boafo, who con tributed immensely in financial terms to the education of several people in his constituency, said he hoped to be remembered for the scholarships he gave to promising students.

He called on his supporters not to be disappointed by his decision as the others who wanted to contest on the NPP's ticket were also members of the party.

"We must all see ourselves as people in the same boat fighting for the same cause."

Mr. Boafo commended all the ward executives of the Subin constituency, and appealed to them to offer the same assistance they gave him to whoever would be presented to them on the party's ticket for the December elections.

Mr. Boafo, who doubles as a lawyer and founder of City Temple International, a charismatic Christian organization, first served as parliamentarian in Asante Akyem in 1979 during Ghana's Third Republic, headed by the late Dr. Hilla Limann.

His political dream was however short-lived following the December 31, 1981 coup d'etat led by Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings.

Mr. Boafo however came back to Parliament in 1997 for Sub in under the Fourth Republic.

He has served on various parliamentary committees including Defence, Interior and Judiciary.

Among those who have expressed interest in Mr. Boafo's seat are Ms. Patricia Appiah-Agyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive; Mr. Isaac Osei, Chief Executive Officer, COCOBOD; Mr. Yamoah Ponko, a retired broadcaster, and Tony Nyame, a Kumasi-based businessman.