Abutia-Teti (V/R), July 11, GNA - Two hundred and forty-three delegates of the Ho-West Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Saturday endorsed by popular acclamation, Mr Francis Aggrey Agbotse, the incumbent Member of Parliament, to be the Party's Parliamentary Candidate for Election 2004 due in December.

The endorsement Conference, which was supervised by officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) also coincided with the launching of the constituency campaign and campaign song, composed and sang by Miss Dela Delali and Adabaji, both Togolese song stresses.

Mr Agbotse in an acceptance remark thanked the delegates for their confidence in him and pledged to retain the seat in the December elections.

He dismissed assertions by his political opponents that little was achieved under his two previous terms in Parliament.

Mr Agbotse catalogued some of his achievements as improving on basic school infrastructure in the area, including the provision of library books worth 60 million cedis each to seven Senior Secondary Schools and the Amedzofe Teacher Training from his MPs Common Fund and other sources.

He enumerated other projects as the provision of electricity to most communities, the provision of boreholes to 75 Guinea worm endemic communities at a cost of 326,000 dollars with support from Rotary International and some road projects.

Mr Agbotse, however, alleged that the New Patriotic Party Government upon assumption of power discontinued all road projects being tackled in the Constituency and replaced the contractors with their favourites, which he said was a drawback of development. He urged the people to remain resolute and work harder to unseat the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Mr Agbotse has meanwhile awarded 10 basic school pupils in the Abutia area with a one-year scholarship based on selections to be made by the chiefs of the traditional area.

Mr Thomas Dandzoh, a Founding Father of the Party, said it would be the greatest disservice to the nation if Ghanaians renewed the mandate of the ruling NPP Government as prices of goods and services including utility bills had reached astronomical levels beyond the reach of ordinary people.

"Government promised heaven but took us to hell", he said.