The intervention of a founding member of the party, Mr. George Ayisi Boateng has ended what had been a deep- seated animosity between some of the constituency executives over the election of Nana Okyere Tawiah, as the 2012 parliamentary candidate for the area.
The election of Nana Okyere Tawiah, as the constituency parliamentary candidate during the party’s primary held a few months ago, brought sharp division between the various constituency executives, whose loyalties were divided amongst the five contestants.
The constituency executives had split allegiance amongst the three main contestants, including the two former parliamentary candidates -Alhaji Baba Sherrif, Dr. Mohammed Ballah and the ultimate winner, Nana Okyere Tawiah.
After Dr. Ballah, who was tipped as favourite failed to emerge victorious in the primary, some of the constituency executives raised eyebrows.
Their contention was that the Asawase constituency is occupied predominantly by Northerners and Moslems and, therefore, the NPP needs someone who is a Moslem and is of Northern origin, to enhance the chances of the party annexing the seat.
Consequently, executives who were alleged to have supported the defeated candidates, especially Dr. Ballah petitioned without success, for a possible change in the candidature, and to allow the former parliamentary aspirant to represent the constituency.
After failing to push the agenda through, information available indicates that internal wrangling had existed between the various factions, making teamwork and cooperation entirely impossible amongst them.
But normality appears to have returned after the eminent NPP member held a mediation talks amongst the various feuding blocs on Friday to try to resolve all concerns and grievances.
The meeting, which was held at the party’s office, located at Asawase, discussed amongst other things, the need for all of them to bury their differences and rally behind the chosen candidate to ensure victory for the party in 2012.
Mr. George Ayisi Boateng told The Chronicle, after the nearly two- hour meeting, that they had frank and open talks, which enabled the various factions to air their grievances.
He said the meeting, which was also attended by ward coordinators, discussed various strategies that could be adopted to maximize the party’s support base and increase the electoral fortunes come the December 2012 elections.
‘All the parties have agreed to come together and support the elected candidate to win the seat,’ he noted.
Mr. Ayisi Boateng stressed the fact that once elections had been fairly conducted and a candidate selected, there was nothing anyone could do since it would amount to trampling the essence of democracy, stressing that ‘what is important for each and everyone to come together to play his or her part in the upcoming elections’.
Mr. Ayisi Boateng also reminded them of Nana Addo’s ‘All Hands on Deck’ tour, which was meant to bring both victors and losers together to fight for the common course of the party which victory 2012.
He noted that the catch phrase on the lips of every member of the party is party unity, adding that under no circumstance should the unity of the party be comprised with any individual’s whims and caprices.
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