Kumasi, Jan. 12, GNA- Mr Fredrick Fredua Anto, Ashanti Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has advised women members of the party in Ashanti, particularly in Kumasi, to contest the primaries for parliamentary seats.

He regretted that there was only one-woman parliamentarian in the entire Ashanti region, which had the largest number of 33 constituencies.

Mr Anto said this situation was unfortunate viewed against the background that women were even better campaigners, since they carry campaign messages even to the markets where they trade.

He was speaking at an end-of-year dinner organised by the Bantama constituency of the NPP for polling agents, ward co-ordinators, ward executive and the constituency executives in Kumasi on Sunday. The Regional chairman explained that until the national secretariat of the party states otherwise, the present executive still have jurisdiction for the Bantama constituency in spite of the decision by the Electoral Commission (EC) to split it into three, namely Bantama, Nhyiaeso and Kwadaso.

Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Highways and Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama, called on the polling agents, ward co-ordinators and executive and the entire membership of the party in the constituency to ensure that the party was returned to power. He said Bantama was tagged the "Florida of Ghana" in the 2000 elections due to the massive votes the NPP got and tasked the constituents to ensure that this time round, the party secured 300,000 votes in this year's election.

Dr Anane said the country was gradually recapturing its past glory due to the good governance and leadership of President J A Kufuor. The Minister said this year would witness a lot of activities in the road sector in addition to those that were already being constructed.

He mentioned particularly roads in the Volta region where work was going on the Kpando-Worawora-Dambai road, Have-Kpando-Hohoe and the Tema-Sogakope-Aflao road.

The other regions including Western, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Northern, Upper East and West, are also receiving their fair share of road construction, he added.

Mr George Kofi Adjei, the Bantama Constituency Chairman of the party, asked supporters and members of the party not to set an agenda for the opposition to chastise the government.

He said instead of some members of the party seeking clarification on issues they did not understand, they rather accused the government and wondered whether such party members could defend the government.

Mr Adjei said if supporters of the NDC could stoutly defend the party even in the face of some of the bad things it did during its rule, then there was the need for NPP supporters to also defend the party. He, therefore, called on those who were fond of chastising the government unnecessarily to stop.