Bekwai (Ash), May 17, GNA - The Amansie East Constituency Polling Station Chairmen of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have called on the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Party to nullify the parliamentary primaries' results. The call, according to them, was in view of the fact that one Nana Yaa Takyiwaa from Adankrangya was allowed to vote though she was not a polling station chairperson and had no right to vote on that day. Speaking at a press conference held at Bekwai on Friday, Mr Akwasi Owusu-Sarkodie, Spokesperson for the Chairmen, said they had petitioned the National and Regional Secretariats of the Party against her voting and were awaiting their responses.

He said "if our grievances are not dealt with immediately, our next line of action will possibly be to support an independent candidate to contest the December elections adding; "pressure is being mounted on us by the electorate to present to them their preferred candidate in the person of Mr Joe Osei-Owusu as the electorate have lost faith in Mr Kofi Poku Adusei, the incumbent Member of Parliament or they will either not vote at all or vote against the NPP if Adusei is presented as the Party's candidate".

Mr Owusu-Sarkodie stated that they loved the Party and therefore "we will not allow it to die prematurely as the candidate we shall present, if the need arises, will whip up interest in the electorate for the NPP to increase its votes in the constituency to help us to retain power". He said they have absolutely lost confidence in the constituency executives as it has been split into two and "some of them see us as their bitterest enemies and verbally and physically attacked us at party meetings".

He stated that prior to the delegates' congress, the Executives wrote to some selected chairmen to attend the congress and failed to invite those they perceived as supporters of Mr Osei-Owusu until he complained to the Regional Party Executives. Mr Owusu-Sarkodie said dishonesty and undemocratic practices had taken the better part of the Party Leadership in the constituency and appealed to the NEC to arrest the situation before it was too late. Mr Adusei polled 70 votes as against 69 by Mr Osei-Owusu in the election, which later led to a massive demonstration by people of Bekwai and its surrounding towns last Saturday in which a number of people including school children sustained various degrees of injury following the firing of warning shots, teargas and rubber bullets by the Police. Meanwhile, Nana Kaakari Appau, Omanhene of Bekwai Traditional Area, has called on the Police Administration to conduct thorough investigations into the way the Police handled the situation. He described the approach adopted by the Police as amateurish, unprofessional and callous and an infringement on the right of the people, since the situation did not warrant such high-handedness. "Indeed the Police Commander in charge of the operation needs to go in for further training. He does not deserve to be given such a high responsibility. It was very pathetic that many innocent adults and children had to seek refuge in my Palace as they could not withstand the intensity of the teargas thrown at them". 17 May 08