Tamale, Aug. 14, GNA - A group calling itself the "Youth and Grassroots Membership of the CPP" in the Northern Region, on Monday, declared its support for the "Patriots," another group in the party, and pledged to stand behind it in its quest to rejuvenate the party. In a statement issued in Tamale on Monday was reaction to worries expressed by Mr. Albert Atutiga, Northern Regional chairman of the party who had said the Patriots were forming parallel structures in the party, which could detract from the political agenda of the CPP. The statement thumb printed by the Nanton and Kumbungu constituency chairmen, Mr. Alhassan Jebla and Mr. Zakaria Imoro, and signed by Tamale Central Organiser, Mr. Sayibu Nabila Noble, indicated that the claims by Mr. Atutiga were misleading.

The statement claimed that at a meeting with some members of the party in Tamale, Mr. Atutiga announced a visit of the Patriots from Accra and advised them to give the Patriots the necessary support on their arrival.

It said: "We don't understand why he would turn back and criticise the Patriots for touring some of constituencies in the region." "The fact of the matter is that like the National Executive, the regional executives of our party have been inactive. Most of the constituencies in the region have never seen any of the executive members since the last regional elections of the party and as such, organising the party has come to a standstill", the statement said.

The statement said: "Mr. Atutiga has been given a party vehicle, a pick-up, and he has since not visited any constituency outside Tamale. He has also refused to put party colours on the pick-up and he is using the vehicle for his private business".

The statement said Mr. Atutiga had been "economical with the truth," regarding the visit of the Patriots to the region and urged him to retract his statement that the Patriots had ignored laid-down party structures, appointed new regional executives and opened new party offices.

It appealed to the leadership of the Patriots not to let their good efforts be thwarted by Mr. Atutiga but to work harder to help move the party forward.

Mr. Albert Atutiga, when contacted indicated that he was not against the activities of the Patriots but was worried about their creation of parallel structures and was only calling on them to follow the existing laid-down party structures. He said: "The Patriots came to me after touring some of the constituencies and they agreed to my suggestion and pledged to use the existing structures.

"We are all working in the interest of the party and if they don't want the downfall of the party why should they visit the constituencies without first informing me or any of my executives".

On the issue of using the party pick-up for his private business, Mr. Atutiga said he had three private cars before the pick-up was given to him, adding that none of such vehicles given out for party activities throughout the country had been painted in party colours.

Mr. Atutiga said he had visited some 12 constituencies, including two in the Upper West Region with the pick-up together with Mr. Iddrisu Abu, Vice- Chairman, Alhaji Issa Zorro, Regional Organiser and Mr. Emmanuel Alhassan Mahama, Regional Secretary.

"It is therefore, not correct that I have not travelled outside Tamale for party activities," he said.