Regional News of Tuesday, 16 March 2004

Source: The Independent

Riot at Effutu NPP primaries

Angry youth and activists of the Effutu Constituency branch of the NPP, over the weekend banned the National, Regional and Constituency Executives of the party from mentioning the name of President Kufuor at the Effutu Constituency primaries of the party until the primaries were over.

This order, which stunned delegates, supporters and sympathisers who gathered for the election of the party?s candidate for the constituency was issued on behalf of the angry youth, by one Ernest Afenyo Markins, an ardent supporter of Dr. Oheneba Kwesi Acheamopong, one of the aspirant who placed second at the end of the race.

Markins explained that the mention of President Kufuor?s name would give undue advantage to one of the aspirants, Mr. Ernest Yamoah Kufuor, who incidentally happens to be a nephew of the President.

He further asserted that the mention of the name Kufuor would prejudice the psyche of the delegates to vote for Mr. Yamoah Kufuor. The order became necessary after party officials had taken turns to get the party?s supporters by shouting ?Kufuor Nie, Osono Nie, Osono Nie, Kufuor Nie.?

This, the group felt was unfair and angrily issued their fiat on the use of the name, Kufuor.