NPP Activists Protest Over Polls

SOME activists of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the New Edubiase Constituency yesterday demonstrated in the constituency capital, protesting against the rumor of disqualification of Kofi Ninsin Appiagyei, a chairmanship candidate, from the election which is to be held on Saturday.

The party members, who gathered outside the constituency office of the NPP, accused the District Chief Executive (DCE), Francis Ankomah of masterminding the disqualification of the candidate.

The protest passed peacefully despite high political tensions and fears that the demonstration would be disrupted by hard-line activists.

The protesters, who were led by one Prince Akyerem – a polling station chairman of Atobiase Roman Catholic, were identified to be supporters of the constituency chairmanship aspirant, Kofi Ninsin Appiagyei.

He is contesting the position with two others, Prince Anfo Boahene (incumbent) and Kyei Baffour De-Graft.

Mr Appiagyei’s supporters are concerned that their candidate has been disqualified from running in the upcoming internal NPP polls which is to elect the party’s constituency officers.

Prince Akyerem, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, said all the three candidates were vetted by a committee with the DCE being one of the panellists.

According to him, they had overheard the DCE telling a friend that he would ensure the disqualification of Mr Ninsin Appiagyei.

Prince stated that the youth activists of the party would not sit unconcerned for some party members to engage in political brinkmanship after they had toiled to win the parliamentary election for the first time in the constituency.

He alleged that many members of the party had voiced the suspicion that the disqualification is being schemed or cooked up as a way to ensure that the incumbent goes unopposed.