General News of Sunday, 8 June 2008

Source: GNA

Some NPP supporters threaten not to vote

Tepa (Ash), June 8, GNA- Two hundred and seven New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters at Tepa Zongo in the Ahafo Ano North, have threatened to stay away in this year's general election because of deception and discrimination on the part of the constituency executives.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Tepa on Monday, Mr. Abubakari Saddique, spokesman for the aggrieved supporters stated thaton two separate occasions, in the past seven months, Mr. Kwabena Poku, the Constituency Chairman asked them to fill some forms and submit their passport pictures to enable them benefit from a micro-credits which has turned to be a mere propaganda.

He said another reason to support their decision stemmed from the fact that apart from the polling station chairmen, they were sidelined from party meetings and other major activities organized in the constituency.

Mr. Saddique noted that people who recently joined the party in the constituency have been supplied with some incentive packages like bicycles and motor-bikes at the detriment of those who have remained loyal to the party for a very long time.

A Polling Station Chairman, Mallam Arimiyaw Mohammed in a contribution said if the situation remained as it was, they would not vote at all in the December elections.

He said; "it will be very shameful for us to join any political party and to avoid any embarrassment we have decided not to vote at all, come December 7, this year".

When Mr. Kwabena Poku, the Constituency Chairman of the NPP was contacted, he admitted the concerns of the supporters but said the party executives at the constituency level have no control over the disbursement of the micro-credit funds.

He hoped those responsible would expedite action to enable the prospective beneficiaries to access the loan facility. Mr. Poku appealed to the supporters of the party to be patient since the party has elaborate plans to ginger them at the national, regional and constituency levels for the task ahead.