Takoradi, Jan. 30, GNA - The Western Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has set up a committee to consider the retention of the party's sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), Nana Owusu-Ankomah, the party's Regional Chairman, said on Wednesday.

Addressing newsmen in Takoradi, he said the committee was to take decision on the issue without causing acrimony and division within the party.

Nana Owusu-Ankomah said the issue affected the fortunes in the party in 2004 when some members stood as independent candidates. He said the party has initiated moves to reconcile and unite the members after the national congress to elect a flag bearer last year. Nana Owusu-Ankomah said the leadership of the party was united and that it was necessary for the rank and file to do the same. He said the party would not achieve its goals when there were conflicts and disputes among the members. Nana Owusu-Ankomah said the campaign strategy of the branch for the 2008 elections was to enable the party to increase its 12 out of the 22 seats in the Region.

He said the youth was the focus of the strategy and that the branch would educate the youth, especially those that had just turned 18 to register when the voters' registration exercise re-opened by March this year.