Aggrieved NPP members make final appeal

Aggrieved members of the Tema West Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have appealed to the National Executives of the party to ensure that its constitution was respected by every member. Making the appeal at a meeting in Tema over the weekend, the aggrieved members said if the top hierarchy of the party did not act swiftly to ensure that nobody breached the rules and regulations governing elections, there was the likelihood that NPP would lose the seat come 2012. Dr Martin Antwi, Second Constituency Vice Chairman, who made the appeal on behalf of members, said it was regrettable that recently polling station executives were selected and not elected. He alleged that the party's modalities for elections were recently flouted by the sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Mrs Irene Naa Torshie Addo, thus leading to the polling station executives being selected instead of elected. The top hierarchy, he said: "looked on helplessly, and allowed this shameful event to go on without bringing the situation to order." Dr Antwi said, investigations at most polling stations in the constituency revealed several irregularities in the electoral process. He said it was sad to note that earlier petitions sent to the National Executives had fallen on deaf ears. He, therefore, urged the national executives to act swiftly in order to get the rules to work in Tema West before it was too late. Dr Antwi said the meeting to address the issue was the beginning of a united force towards an onward march to justice, dedication and commitment to the party. It will be recalled that on Monday, November 23, 2009 the aggrieved members in the constituency issued a press statement signed jointly by Dr Antwi and Mr Henry Osei-Owusu, Constituency Secretary, accusing the MP and the Constituency Chairman of using the "disputed constituency album" to elect new executives against the laid down rules.