Sunyani, April 24, GNA - The Ghana National Party (GNP) on Thursday held its maiden regional congress in Sunyani with a call on Ghanaians to vote for the party to help alleviate the economic hardship of the people.

Mr. Eric Sarpong, Deputy General Secretary, appealed to political parties to promote inter-party relationships and cooperation to make this year's elections incident free. "The recent untold hardships and sufferings of the people are against humanity", he said and added that it was important to create a society of abundant opportunities for all and this the GNP would do if voted to power.

Mr. Sarpong said the GNP was not associated with any tribe nor was it dominated by particular sections of the populace and urged members to work hard in propagating its ideologies and philosophies to woo more people to join it.

He said the party was ready to contest and capture most of the 230 parliamentary seats and would organize its national congress to elect a flagbearer in Accra in May.

Mr. Sarpong appealed to members to eschew petty squabbles and internal wrangling, to close their ranks and conduct the electioneering campaign devoid of rancour and acrimony.

He advised members to be wary of politicians who might want to influence them with money and gifts, saying "you become the slave of such politicians if you collect monies and vote for them". Earlier regional executives of the party were elected in an election conducted and supervised by officials of the Electoral Commission.

They were Mr. Osei Nkrumah, a retired educationist was elected as the regional chairman, Mr. Karikari Boateng, vice chairman, Mr. Joseph Amenka second vice chairman and Mr. Emmanuel Wireku Secretary. Others were Mr. Charles Amoah, deputy secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Donkor, organizing secretary, Mrs. Valerie Eshie, women organizer, Mr. Joseph Donkor organizer, Mr. Martin Kobire, treasurer and Mr. Fosu Ankomah propaganda secretary.