Accra, April 19, GNA - The People's National Convention (PNC) on Tuesday announced the dismissal of the Ashanti Regional Secretary, Mr Thomas Atigah for throwing his weight behind the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate in Thursday's Asawase bye-election instead of the PNC candidate.

An official statement in Accra signed by the General Secretary and issued to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, said Mr Atigah "is forthwith dismissed from the PNC with immediate effect.

"The Leadership of the PNC reiterates its support and confidence in the Party's candidate, Ibrahim Mohammed Issaka and urges supporters of the PNC and CPP and, in fact, all voters in the Asawase constituency to vote massively for the PNC candidate in the bye election."

The PNC said it had noted that since Election 2004 in which Mr Atigah was its parliamentary candidate in the Asawase Constituency, his loyalty to the Party had been questionable leading to a call by a section of the members of the Party for his removal.

"The general public and particularly voters in Asawase constituency should, therefore, ignore the empty and vain call of Thomas and stand behind the Party's candidate."

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is the third party contesting the bye-election.

The bye-election became necessary following the death of the NDC MP, Dr Adamu M. Gibiril.

The Parliamentary results of Election 2004 were: Thomas Tangwanse of People's National Convention (PNC), 1,598 votes; Patricia Appiagyei of New Patriotic Party (NPP), 29,067 votes; Dr Gibril of National Democratic Congress (NDC), 33,541 votes; King Hassan Abu-Bong of Convention People's Party (CPP), 570 votes; Adam Diywo Rahman of Democratic People's Party (DPP), 204 votes and Abdul Majeed Alhassan an Independent Candidate, 2,505 votes.