Garu (U/E), March 17, GNA- A former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Garu-Tempane in the Upper East Region, Mr. Dominic Azimbe Azumah was at the weekend endorsed as parliamentary candidate to contest for the seat on the party’s ticket in the forthcoming elections.
Mr Azumah lost the seat to Mr Joseph Akudibilla who stood as an Independent candidate there during the 2000 general elections. At the constituency’s delegates congress held in Garu near Bawku at the weekend, he polled 120 votes to beat his opponent, Mr. David Akologo, who polled 69 votes at the primaries.
The polls were conducted by the Bawku East Municipal office of the Electoral Commission and supervised by some constituency executive members of the NDC.
After the results were declared, Mr. Akologo conceded defeat, thanked the rank and file of the party for their support and pledged to support Mr. Azumah to regain the seat.
On his part, Mr. Azumah said the successful conduct of the primaries was a victory for the NDC in the area, adding that it is also a demonstration of the party’s willingness to strengthen its internal democracy.
Mr. Azumah urged party loyalists to bury their differences and rally behind him to unseat the incumbent MP, Mr. Dominic Akudibilla during the forthcoming general elections.
Mr. Azumah, who was imposed on the people by the NDC during the last elections, and which led to the miserable performance of the party in the area, noted that such a practice was not the best and therefore, should be discouraged.
He advised all political parties to endeavour to conduct free and fair primaries during which the delegates would be allowed to choose their own candidates.
He said his immediate task is to work assiduously to unite the rank and file of party supporters to clinch victory in the 2004 general election. He also pledged to work hard to develop the newly created district if elected again as the MP, saying job creation, youth development, health and education would be his priority areas in an attempt to reduce widespread poverty in the area.
Mr. Azumah commended his opponent for a good contest, thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to deliver if they rallied their support behind him.
Source: GhanaWeb
