The stage is now set for a vigorous electioneering campaign by the New Patriotic party (NPP) in the Asante Akim Central constituency in the Ashanti region following the amicable settlement of seeming feud between some constituency executives and the Parliamentary candidate of the party in the area.
Some executives are said to have pitched camp with a failed parliamentary candidate who had resolved to contest the parliamentary seat as an independent candidate.
The affected executives decided to break away from the campaign of the parliamentary candidate, Lawyer Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, who is the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim Central to avoid appointing fingers and accusations.
The breakaway and ensuing bad blood between the two sides thus affected effective campaign and bred apathy among campaign team members.
Last Tuesday, a seven-member mediation team of the Ashanti Regional Council of Elders of the NPP led by Dr. Moussa Jabir Kabir intervened and managed to broker peace among all stakeholders after 6-hour deliberations with Constituency Council of Elders, patrons, electoral area coordinators and campaign team and communication team members.
After an honest assessment of the situation over four hours, it was identified that the independent candidate had created disunity and indiscipline among the constituency executive members leading to total breakdown of functions of the party.
Sensing the danger of the cracks from a seeming emergence of old and new NPP in the area, the Council of Elders further met the Parliamentary candidate, the constituency secretary Felix Amakye and the constituency Youth Organiser, Jones Osei Asamoah in another two hours of deliberations at the residence of the Parliamentary candidate to iron out their differences.
The members of the Council of Elders took turns to advise the two sides on the need to ensure that peace and unity prevail as well as uphold the principles of democracy rule of law and be guided by the supreme interest of party first and foremost.
The entire executives and membership of the party were cautioned to go about party activities according to laid down principles and avoid destroying the party for their selfish gains.
At the end of the day, the two sides smoked the peace pipe to the admiration of the members of the Council of Elders present who expressed the hope that the party would intensify campaign in the constituency to increase votes in both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections to retain power.
Other members of the Ashanti Regional Council of Elders whose swift intervention to save the Asante Akim Central NPP from breakdown were Victor Owusu Jnr. (Secretary), Hon. Kofi Frimpong (former MP, Kwabre East), F. F. Anto, (former NPP Regional chairman and former First National Vice Chairman); Nana Wiafe Ababio, Board chairman of the National Ambulance Service; Madam Mary Duodu, Regional School Feeding Coordinator, Madam Serwaa Derchie, first Ashanti Regional Women’s Organizer and former MCE for Ejisu and Mrs. Elizabeth Agyemang (former Oforikrom MP).
Source: www.kumasimail.com /Barimaba Atuahene, Konongo
