The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Peter Mac Manu, has finally admitted after a series of accusations by supporters of the party, that he was the cause of the party’s painful defeat in the 2008 general elections.

He made the confession at the Eastern Regional Annual Delegates Conference held at Koforidua on Tuesday, this week, to elect executives to lead the region for the next four years. His confession shocked the delegates, who sat quietly in their seats, staring at him.

According to Mr Mac Manu, his lack of nimbleness and imagination to marshal party supporters across the country, to retain power as he promised, had made him regret and admit his failure. Based on this, he told the delegates that he had decided not to seek re-election, to pave the way for the fresh executives with fresh ideas to take over the party.

Even though he admitted that he was the cause of the party’s defeat, he vowed not to respond to the series of insults and attacks that some supporters were trading in the media, since the party had its internal structures to addressing such grievances. He entreated party members to ensure unity and peace, and desist from using the media as a tool to address issues, and rather use the internal structures to addressing such grievances.

Prior to the elections, he advised the contestants to place the interest of the party above their personal interests, since a win would not be an individual victory, but the party’s. At the end of the peaceful and well-organised elections, persons perceived to be admirers of Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, better known in political cycles as ‘Alan Cash’, trounced Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo’s perceived candidates.

Mr Samuel Yaw Annor, who was alleged to have sponsored ‘Alan Cash’ during the party’s presidential contest, was declared the chairman, with a total vote of 196, while his main contender, Mr Kofi Asare Lartey, chalked 159, with the incumbent, Mr Yaw Gyekye Amoabeng, and the former Director of the Ghana Law School, Mr Ansah Asare, polling 88 and 54 votes respectively. Alhaji Ulmar Babs Bodinga, who is the immediate past 2nd Vice Chairman, Mr Christian Kofi Tettey, with a massive 308 votes, whilst the latter recorded 193. Madam Afua Kyerewaa was declared the 2nd Vice Chairperson, after she polled out 244 votes, with her main contender, Madam Mercy Amo Darko, coming close with 170 votes.

With the secretary position, young Prince Aboagye overwhelmingly polled 354 votes to be declared the winner, with the incumbent, Mr Alecs Abogo and Martin Ameyaw recording 52 and 92 in that order, while the Assistant Secretary went to Antwi Boasiako with a vote of 367, and 135 for George Owusu. The Youth Organiser and Organiser went to Mr Samuel Annor Dompre and Seth Okyere respectively, whilst Eric Boakye Dafour clinched the Treasure position, unopposed.

In a related development, supporters of the party from the Abuakwa North Constituency, on Tuesday attacked their Member of Parliament (MP) Professor Emeritus Samuel Amoako, and subjected him to several beatings amidst unprintable insults. But for the timely intervention of the police, who whisked the NP form the furious supporters, a different story would have been told. The incident happened at the conference grounds, where the delegates were busily casting their votes to elect regional officers.

Information gathered by The Chronicle revealed that the disgruntled Abuakwa North supporters attacked the MP for going to court to restrain them from taking part in the just-ended Regional Annual Delegates Conference and Executives elections. According to the information, the action of the MP and cohorts to restrain the constituency from taking part in the conference was based on his conviction that the executives did not follow due process.

This development, according to information, infuriated the supporters, particularly the executives, who believed that they had been deprived of their legitimate right to elect regional executives they deemed fit to marshal the affairs of the party. When contacted on the issue, the MP expressed shock and surprise over the conduct of his constituents.

According to the soft-spoken Abuakwa North Legislature, the action of the constituents had taken him by surprise, since he could not fathom what made them act that way, but quickly added that “it might be the court injunction.”