Sunyani, Dec. 2, GNA - Two members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Sunyani East Constituency on Tuesday appealed to delegates not to be influenced with money in exercising their franchise in the impending regional executive election.

Mr Michael Ramsey Yeboah and Mr Ekow Forson told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that there was the need to elect competent and committed executives who could work to enhance the fortunes of the party in the 2012 general election.

"Even though bribery plays a very decisive role in elections it is also essential to consider electing executives who will have the political will to lead the party to success".

Mr. Yeboah said the Brong-Ahafo Region was one of the strongholds of the NPP but because of petty squabbles and disunity amongst some regional and constituency executives the party could not make any significant gains in the 2008 run-off election.

He advised supporters to bury their differences that could divide them and rally behind executives to enable the party to wrestle power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Mr. Yeboah said the NDC had worsened the plight of Ghanaians since it took office from the NPP and that when the NPP took power in 2000 the interest rate stood at 38 percent and came down to 18 percent in 2008. "Now interest rate stands at 34 percent", he said and called on Ghanaians to vote for the NPP in 2012 to enable it to lessen their burden through the implementation of pragmatic and laudable programmes and policies.

Mr. Forson said the fortunes of the NPP depended on people at the grassroots and urged constituency executives to intensify their campaign. He reiterated the need for the party's hierarchy to arrange some incentive packages to motivate foot soldiers so they would campaign effectively at the grassroots. Mr. Kwadwo Yeboah Fordjour, former Brong-Ahafo Regional Chairman, Mr. Frank Opoku Adjapong, a businessman and Mr. Asomah Cheremeh, a legal practitioner, have filed nominations to contest for the regional chairmanship of the party. 02 Dec 09