Agona Swedru (C/R), May 2, GNA - Mr Samuel Kweku Obodai, the Member Parliament (MP) for Agona West, was re-elected as the parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the fourth consecutive time.

He polled 199 votes to beat four other aspirants in a fiercely contested battle which saw Mr Ebenezer Selby, polling 193 votes. Mrs Cynthia Morrison, Director of Maryland Montessori International School at Agona Kwansakrom polled 96 votes with Mr Richard Andam, a businessman polling 57 votes. Mr Thomas Kwesi Asante, had 26 votes.

Mr Danquah Smith, Central Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party urged the delegates and entire members to bury their political differences to enable the party win in the 2012 general elections. He said most of the Parliamentary seats in the region went to National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2008 elections due to petty misunderstandings and internal wrangling. Speaking to the press after his election, Mr Obodai said the election was a family affair and there was no need for losing aspirants to become upset, adding that the delegates have spoken and urged them to support to him and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the 2012 election.

At Agona East, Mr John Kwesi Agyabeng, the sitting MP was also elected unopposed through acclamation held at Agona Kwanyako. The delegates also held a conference to discus matters affecting the party in the constituency and adopted strategies towards winning the 2012 elections. Mr Agyabeng called on the members to bury their differences and asked them to work hard since the party needed to work extra hard to beat the NDC in the next election. 2 May 11