NPP FACTION IN TEMA WEST TO RUN PARALLEL ADMINISTRATION (PAGE 17, DEC 2)

SIX of the 10 executive members of the Tema West Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who boycotted the recently held constituency elections have declared their intention to run a parallel administration with the newly elected executive.
At a press conference, which was well attended by party members in the constituency, the Second Vice-Chairman, Dr Martin K. Antwi, who was the spokesperson, said “as friends of truth and enemies of lies, the group believes in principles, fair play and justice”.
The press conference was also attended by Constituency Secretary, Mr Osei-Wusu, the organiser, Francis Porebo, women’s Organiser, Christie Mohammed, Financial Secretary, Barima Abankwah, and the Youth Organiser, Mr Mills.
The group rejected the outcome of the recent polls that saw 66-year-old John Kwame Awuah being elected as chairman.
They also pointed accusing fingers at the former Chairman, Mr Paul Sampana-Azure, and MP for the area, Ms Irene Naa Torshie Addo, who they said had subverted the process of electing polling station executives by intimidating members into accepting their selected persons.
Dr Antwi said the recent “selection and not election of polling station executives by people seeking their parochial interest does not only go to tarnish the image of the party within the constituency, but would go a long way to cost the party of the seat in the 2012 general elections”.
Continuing, Dr Antwi said “although we do not have silver and gold, we have common sense and good judgment in abundance, and would not allow ourselves to be enticed into compromising unacceptable conducts”, he remarked.
They expressed regret that the regional executives of the party sat down and looked on helplessly, allowing the shameful conduct of selections which breached the laid-down rules and modalities outlined by the general secretary.
They also expressed disappointment that various petitions on the said conduct forwarded to the national and regional executives fell on deaf ears as officials resorted to buck-passing, blame-game and pretence to signify all was well within the constituency.
Quoting a phrase from the famous Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe, Dr Antwi said, “since national executives have decided to fly without perching, they would, in 2012, shoot without missing”.