Page 33, Jan 7, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Kaaseman Rural Bank in the Western Region recorded profit of GH¢152,363 in 2008 as against GH¢76,361 it had in 2007.
The amount represents 99.5 per cent increase in pre-tax profits during the year under review over the previous year.
The bank also increased its deposits from GH¢4,455,311 to GH¢4,725,990, while its total assets increased from GH¢5,553,362 to GH¢5,819,527.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Mr Kwame Twumasi Ankrah, disclosed these at the 21st annual general meeting of the bank at Kaase.
He, however, bemoaned a lack of will by the authorities to enforce the use of the Akuafo Cheque system in the purchase of cocoa, and stated that the situation had negatively affected major players in the cocoa purchase business.
He explained that the Akuafo Cheque purchase, which used to be one of the bank’s major income sources, continued to fall from GH¢ 17,611,500 in 2006 to GH¢12,618,000 in 2007 and to GH¢10,938,035 in 2008.
Mr Ankrah added that because of that the existing rural banks were required to grow and no dividend was declared, explaining that part of the bank’s profit had been transferred to beef up the bank’s stated capital.
He said that the stiff competition in the banking industry, especially from the commercial banks and non-bank financial institutions, was the a challenge to the survival of rural banks.
The Manager of the Sunyani branch of the ARB Apex bank, Mr Claver Dadzie, cautioned the staff, the board and the management of the bank not to be complacent about their achievement.
He expressed hope that these gains would be consolidated to serve as an impetus to spur the bank on to achieve more laurels in future.
Mr Dadzie noted that performance of most community and rural banks in the country had been encouraging as they had consistently registered impressive deposit mobilisation and increases in share capital.
He said that was an indication of the growing public confidence in the rural banking system.
Mr Dadzie said that the achievements notwithstanding, rural banks still had a lot to do by way of organisational and operational restructuring.
He explained that there was a need for rural banks to quicken the pace of migration from manual operation to embrace information and communication technology, effective deposit mobilisation, credit administration and cost control and reduction.
Mr Dadzie said it was only these measures that could enable them to meet the challenges of competitive and turbulent business environment.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Ignore Adofo Dwamena’s exoneration story--Obodai
Page 17, Jan 7, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament for Agona West, Mr Samuel Obodai, has called on the public to ignore the report in the December 4, 2009 issue of the Daily Graphic that indicated that the embattled Agona West Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Adofo Dwamena, had been exonerated from acts calculated to weaken the party in the area.
He said it was unfortunate that the report of the exoneration of the chairman was done even though the committee which was tasked to investigate his misconduct had not released its findings.
Reacting to the report, Mr Obodai noted that the best thing that members of the party in the constituency could do was to brush the chairman aside for now and continue in their quest to maintain peace.
“I, however find it as my duty as the sitting MP to set the record straight to clear the air”, he said.
Mr Obodai stated that Mr Adofo had to ensure the earlier publication in order to be seen as the good man of the constituency, despite the countless number of negative acts he had visited on the NPP in the area.
The MP alleged that findings of the party after its poor showing in the 2008 elections indicated that the chairman and some 18 polling station chairmen preached “skirt and blouse” during the campaign towards the elections.
He said it would be better for all to wait for report of the committee to be released before such a publication is made to cause confusion among party members in the constituency.
Mr Obodai alleged that even some key members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) confirmed that Mr Adofo contacted them to ensure that he (Mr Obodai) was defeated during the elections.
He, therefore, called on members of the party in the constituency to remain calm, committed and dedicated in the face of such confusion in the party since the real truth could never be hidden.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament for Agona West, Mr Samuel Obodai, has called on the public to ignore the report in the December 4, 2009 issue of the Daily Graphic that indicated that the embattled Agona West Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Adofo Dwamena, had been exonerated from acts calculated to weaken the party in the area.
He said it was unfortunate that the report of the exoneration of the chairman was done even though the committee which was tasked to investigate his misconduct had not released its findings.
Reacting to the report, Mr Obodai noted that the best thing that members of the party in the constituency could do was to brush the chairman aside for now and continue in their quest to maintain peace.
“I, however find it as my duty as the sitting MP to set the record straight to clear the air”, he said.
Mr Obodai stated that Mr Adofo had to ensure the earlier publication in order to be seen as the good man of the constituency, despite the countless number of negative acts he had visited on the NPP in the area.
The MP alleged that findings of the party after its poor showing in the 2008 elections indicated that the chairman and some 18 polling station chairmen preached “skirt and blouse” during the campaign towards the elections.
He said it would be better for all to wait for report of the committee to be released before such a publication is made to cause confusion among party members in the constituency.
Mr Obodai alleged that even some key members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) confirmed that Mr Adofo contacted them to ensure that he (Mr Obodai) was defeated during the elections.
He, therefore, called on members of the party in the constituency to remain calm, committed and dedicated in the face of such confusion in the party since the real truth could never be hidden.
MP for Evalue-Dwira cautions drivers
Page 14, Jan 5, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Evalue-Dwira, Mrs Cathrine Ablema Afeku, has cautioned drivers against offences that can result in accidents in the New Year.
She said offences such as overloading, speeding, wrongful overtaking and drink driving had become well known factors that led to accidents and, therefore, urged the drivers to refrain from them.
Mrs Afeku said measures should be taken to punish drivers who flouted road regulations and resorted to actions that caused accidents on the roads that brought pain and hardship to families of victims.
In her Christmas message, the MP also asked passengers not to be afraid to caution drivers against such offences.
“We should not leave our destinies in the hands of drivers who flout road traffic regulations in order to achieve their parochial interests,” she said.
The MP also appealed to the police to intensify their patrols to check drivers on the road during the Christmas period.
Mrs Afeku wished her constituents a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year and promised that the bond between her and the people would grow from strength to strength in the ensuing year.
She said she used the Christmas period to renew her commitment to the people by visiting a number of towns to interact with the people, noting that one such visit took her to Axim where a party was organised for children in the area, while another party was also organised at Dwira Banso for senior citizens in that area.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Evalue-Dwira, Mrs Cathrine Ablema Afeku, has cautioned drivers against offences that can result in accidents in the New Year.
She said offences such as overloading, speeding, wrongful overtaking and drink driving had become well known factors that led to accidents and, therefore, urged the drivers to refrain from them.
Mrs Afeku said measures should be taken to punish drivers who flouted road regulations and resorted to actions that caused accidents on the roads that brought pain and hardship to families of victims.
In her Christmas message, the MP also asked passengers not to be afraid to caution drivers against such offences.
“We should not leave our destinies in the hands of drivers who flout road traffic regulations in order to achieve their parochial interests,” she said.
The MP also appealed to the police to intensify their patrols to check drivers on the road during the Christmas period.
Mrs Afeku wished her constituents a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year and promised that the bond between her and the people would grow from strength to strength in the ensuing year.
She said she used the Christmas period to renew her commitment to the people by visiting a number of towns to interact with the people, noting that one such visit took her to Axim where a party was organised for children in the area, while another party was also organised at Dwira Banso for senior citizens in that area.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Govt not serious with agric development — Dr Akoto
Page 15, Dece 22, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has described the government‘s commitment to develop the agricultural sector as not being backed by any serious efforts.
According to him, the government had not demonstrated any commitment to embark on new projects, arguing that an examination of the estimates and policies presented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture clearly showed continuity and not change.
“Projects presented in the estimates were all initiated during the period of the NPP administration. There are no bold initiatives in the budget estimate,” the MP stated in a statement in a contribution on the floor of the House.
He said Ghanaian farmers were going to be terribly disappointed if they were expecting any relief in 2010.
Dr Akoto noted that although a total of GH¢923 million was requested by the ministry for agricultural development in 2010, the ministry was allocated only GH¢256.3 million, representing 28 per cent of the requested amount.
“That is how committed this government is to agriculture,” he stated, adding that “of the GH¢256.3 million, government contributed only one-third (GH¢92.1 million), with the rest coming from external donors”.
He said it was even more significant if one compared the allocation of GH¢256.3 million to the ministry for the year 2010 to last year’s allocation of GH¢200.6 million.
Dr Akoto said if account was taken of the annual average rate of inflation of some 20 per cent in 2009, then there was hardly any change in the budget allocation for the ministry in 2010.
The MP noted that rice, which had been touted as a food item for sustainable development, had not been given adequate attention by the government.
“Indeed, the Minister of Agriculture has been quoted as saying that production of rice will be doubled in two years from the current 200,000 metric tonnes per annum. I have gone through the budgetary estimates for all the rice projects and I challenge the minister to show us where the resources are coming from to double output in two year,” Dr Akoto stated.
He stated that rather the government had imposed a draconian tax on rice imports which was going to increase the retail price for rice consumers.
“This is penalising consumers, especially the teeming numbers of workers and their families in the urban areas.
“This unpopular tax will take money out of the pockets of the suffering poor urban workers instead of putting money into their pockets as promised under the Better Ghana slogan of the NDC government,” he stated.
The MP stated that the tax would not increase government revenue but rather intensify smuggling of rice from Cote d’Ivoire into the country.
Touching on cocoa, the MP stated that there were reports of intensified smuggling of cocoa across the country’s borders into Cote d’Ivoire and Togo.
He said reports from some MPs and from elsewhere “indicate that articulator-loads of cocoa are crossing the border everyday as a result of high prices of cocoa in neighbouring countries”.
He attributed that to a defect in the government’s policy for the fixing of the price paid to farmers.
He said farmers in those countries were receiving more than GH¢3000 per metric tonnes compared to local farmers who were being given GH¢2280 per metric tonnes.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has described the government‘s commitment to develop the agricultural sector as not being backed by any serious efforts.
According to him, the government had not demonstrated any commitment to embark on new projects, arguing that an examination of the estimates and policies presented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture clearly showed continuity and not change.
“Projects presented in the estimates were all initiated during the period of the NPP administration. There are no bold initiatives in the budget estimate,” the MP stated in a statement in a contribution on the floor of the House.
He said Ghanaian farmers were going to be terribly disappointed if they were expecting any relief in 2010.
Dr Akoto noted that although a total of GH¢923 million was requested by the ministry for agricultural development in 2010, the ministry was allocated only GH¢256.3 million, representing 28 per cent of the requested amount.
“That is how committed this government is to agriculture,” he stated, adding that “of the GH¢256.3 million, government contributed only one-third (GH¢92.1 million), with the rest coming from external donors”.
He said it was even more significant if one compared the allocation of GH¢256.3 million to the ministry for the year 2010 to last year’s allocation of GH¢200.6 million.
Dr Akoto said if account was taken of the annual average rate of inflation of some 20 per cent in 2009, then there was hardly any change in the budget allocation for the ministry in 2010.
The MP noted that rice, which had been touted as a food item for sustainable development, had not been given adequate attention by the government.
“Indeed, the Minister of Agriculture has been quoted as saying that production of rice will be doubled in two years from the current 200,000 metric tonnes per annum. I have gone through the budgetary estimates for all the rice projects and I challenge the minister to show us where the resources are coming from to double output in two year,” Dr Akoto stated.
He stated that rather the government had imposed a draconian tax on rice imports which was going to increase the retail price for rice consumers.
“This is penalising consumers, especially the teeming numbers of workers and their families in the urban areas.
“This unpopular tax will take money out of the pockets of the suffering poor urban workers instead of putting money into their pockets as promised under the Better Ghana slogan of the NDC government,” he stated.
The MP stated that the tax would not increase government revenue but rather intensify smuggling of rice from Cote d’Ivoire into the country.
Touching on cocoa, the MP stated that there were reports of intensified smuggling of cocoa across the country’s borders into Cote d’Ivoire and Togo.
He said reports from some MPs and from elsewhere “indicate that articulator-loads of cocoa are crossing the border everyday as a result of high prices of cocoa in neighbouring countries”.
He attributed that to a defect in the government’s policy for the fixing of the price paid to farmers.
He said farmers in those countries were receiving more than GH¢3000 per metric tonnes compared to local farmers who were being given GH¢2280 per metric tonnes.
Resolve to live in peace — Bawku MP
Page 22, Dec 30,2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament for Bawku, Mr Adamu Daramani Sakande, has called on the people in the area to reflect on events that happened in the constituency in 2009 and resolve to live in peace with one another.
“Let us use the period to patch up our differences and show the rest of the country that we are one people,” he said in his New Year message to his constituents.
He said the peace that the area had enjoyed for some time now was an indication of how the people were prepared to live in peace to ensure the development of the area.
Mr Sakande called on them to let bygones be bygones and look forward to a new year that would ensure the bouncing back of vibrant economic activities in Bawku and its environs.
“Let us resolve to heal the wounds of the past,” the MP added, and appealed to his people to forget about the negative activities of the past.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament for Bawku, Mr Adamu Daramani Sakande, has called on the people in the area to reflect on events that happened in the constituency in 2009 and resolve to live in peace with one another.
“Let us use the period to patch up our differences and show the rest of the country that we are one people,” he said in his New Year message to his constituents.
He said the peace that the area had enjoyed for some time now was an indication of how the people were prepared to live in peace to ensure the development of the area.
Mr Sakande called on them to let bygones be bygones and look forward to a new year that would ensure the bouncing back of vibrant economic activities in Bawku and its environs.
“Let us resolve to heal the wounds of the past,” the MP added, and appealed to his people to forget about the negative activities of the past.
MPs urged to preach unity at Christmas
Page 15, Dec 23, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has adjourned for the Christmas festivities with a call on Members of Parliament (MPs) to use the period to preach peace and unity needed to create the right conducive environment for the country’s development.
The adjournment last Monday, which marked the end of the Third Meeting of the First Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic also marked the end of the First Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
The House is expected to resume on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 to begin the First Meeting of the Second Session of Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
The First Session began on January 7, 2009 after the new Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, and Members of Parliament (MPs) of the new Parliament were sworn in.
During the third meeting, which began on October 27, 2009, the House held a total of 34 plenary sittings within eight weeks, while a total of 100 papers, including 14 bills, two Legislative Instruments (LIs), two Constitutional Instruments (CIs), nine international agreement, 55 reports and nine other reports were laid before the House.
The Budget Statement and the Economic Policy of the Government for 2010 was also presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Dufuor.
Out of the 14 bills which were presented to the House, seven were passed into law.
They include the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous) Provisions) Bill, 2009, Appropriation (Bill No 2), 2009, Interpretation Bill, Customs and Excise (Duties and other Taxes) (Amendment) Bill 2009 and the Ghana Revenue Authority Bill.
There were also a total of 118 committee sittings, 13 statements, while 95 questions were asked by the MPs for both oral and written by the answers from the various ministers.
Other notable events during the session were the deaths of the MPs for Jirapa and Chireponi, Mr Edward Salia and Mrs Doris Asibi Seidu respectively.
In his closing remarks, the Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, said the First Session of the Fifth Parliament was eventful, since it witnessed the swearing in of the new Parliament, a third of whose members were tasting parliamentary life for the first time.
He noted that despite that sizeable proportion of new MPs, the House did extremely well since the new MPs braced the challenge firmly, learnt and adapted to their new profession within a short space of time.
Touching on the performance of the Speaker, Mr Babgin stated thus: “I can say confidently and proudly without any fear of contradiction that you have faithfully, conscientiously and diligently upheld your oath”.
He noted that the immense experience of the Speaker from the bench reflected on her leadership of Parliament, adding that “your performance has been sterling. No wonder members always miss your absence”.
Mr Bagbin commended the Minority Leader and the entire Minority side for their co-operation and support in seeing through the business of the government.
He noted that Ghana must commend itself for being a member of the league of true democracies; although there were disagreements, the House never got to a boiling point where tables were thrown and blows exchanged.
Mr Bagbin, however, called on members to strive to raise the bar on discipline by showing respect and decorum to the Speaker and to one another, in addition to being temperate in heckling during debates.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, noted that the high point of the meeting was the presentation of the 2010 Budget.
He said although the Minority disagreed and still disagree with some of the policy directions of the government, he believed that it was the hope of all Ghanaians that the implementation of the budget would go a long way to positively impact their lives.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu expressed hope that if bottlenecks arose along the way and there was a need to change course, the Finance Minister would do so.
He registered the displeasure of the Minority with the late submission of budget estimates of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) which constricted space for diligent scrutiny of the budget and debates of the various committee reports.
The Minority Leader reiterated the commitment of his side to facilitate the implementation of government business, adding that “we expect this to be reciprocated”. And in that enterprise, there should not be any blackmail”.
The Speaker, Mrs Bamford-Addo, said the House deserved to be commended for what it achieved during the period under review.
She wished the MPs Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year and urged them to use the recess to preach peace and unity in order create the needed atmosphere for the development of the country.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT has adjourned for the Christmas festivities with a call on Members of Parliament (MPs) to use the period to preach peace and unity needed to create the right conducive environment for the country’s development.
The adjournment last Monday, which marked the end of the Third Meeting of the First Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic also marked the end of the First Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
The House is expected to resume on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 to begin the First Meeting of the Second Session of Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
The First Session began on January 7, 2009 after the new Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, and Members of Parliament (MPs) of the new Parliament were sworn in.
During the third meeting, which began on October 27, 2009, the House held a total of 34 plenary sittings within eight weeks, while a total of 100 papers, including 14 bills, two Legislative Instruments (LIs), two Constitutional Instruments (CIs), nine international agreement, 55 reports and nine other reports were laid before the House.
The Budget Statement and the Economic Policy of the Government for 2010 was also presented to the House by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Dufuor.
Out of the 14 bills which were presented to the House, seven were passed into law.
They include the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous) Provisions) Bill, 2009, Appropriation (Bill No 2), 2009, Interpretation Bill, Customs and Excise (Duties and other Taxes) (Amendment) Bill 2009 and the Ghana Revenue Authority Bill.
There were also a total of 118 committee sittings, 13 statements, while 95 questions were asked by the MPs for both oral and written by the answers from the various ministers.
Other notable events during the session were the deaths of the MPs for Jirapa and Chireponi, Mr Edward Salia and Mrs Doris Asibi Seidu respectively.
In his closing remarks, the Majority Leader and Leader of the House, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, said the First Session of the Fifth Parliament was eventful, since it witnessed the swearing in of the new Parliament, a third of whose members were tasting parliamentary life for the first time.
He noted that despite that sizeable proportion of new MPs, the House did extremely well since the new MPs braced the challenge firmly, learnt and adapted to their new profession within a short space of time.
Touching on the performance of the Speaker, Mr Babgin stated thus: “I can say confidently and proudly without any fear of contradiction that you have faithfully, conscientiously and diligently upheld your oath”.
He noted that the immense experience of the Speaker from the bench reflected on her leadership of Parliament, adding that “your performance has been sterling. No wonder members always miss your absence”.
Mr Bagbin commended the Minority Leader and the entire Minority side for their co-operation and support in seeing through the business of the government.
He noted that Ghana must commend itself for being a member of the league of true democracies; although there were disagreements, the House never got to a boiling point where tables were thrown and blows exchanged.
Mr Bagbin, however, called on members to strive to raise the bar on discipline by showing respect and decorum to the Speaker and to one another, in addition to being temperate in heckling during debates.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, noted that the high point of the meeting was the presentation of the 2010 Budget.
He said although the Minority disagreed and still disagree with some of the policy directions of the government, he believed that it was the hope of all Ghanaians that the implementation of the budget would go a long way to positively impact their lives.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu expressed hope that if bottlenecks arose along the way and there was a need to change course, the Finance Minister would do so.
He registered the displeasure of the Minority with the late submission of budget estimates of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) which constricted space for diligent scrutiny of the budget and debates of the various committee reports.
The Minority Leader reiterated the commitment of his side to facilitate the implementation of government business, adding that “we expect this to be reciprocated”. And in that enterprise, there should not be any blackmail”.
The Speaker, Mrs Bamford-Addo, said the House deserved to be commended for what it achieved during the period under review.
She wished the MPs Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year and urged them to use the recess to preach peace and unity in order create the needed atmosphere for the development of the country.
NPP must unite for victory-Ayeh-Paye
Page 13, Dec 19, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayensuano in the Eastern Region, Mr Samuel Ayeh-Paye, has expressed optimism that the various factions in the party will patch up their differences to pave the way for a resounding victory in the 2012 elections.
"The party has no choice but to work towards total unity, since without that it will be difficult for us to oust the National Democratic Congress from power during the next elections,” he said.
Mr Ayeh-Payeh told the Daily Graphic after supervising an election for the executive in his constituency that gradually, the party would be useful for the successful conduct of elections in most of the constituencies in order to have a positive impact at both regional and national elections.
He stated that everybody has a role to play in the party's agenda for 2012, and urged losing contestants at constituency, regional and national level elections not to sit on the fence, but assist with their ideas to enable the party to realise its dreams.
Mr Ayeh-Paye also impressed on the winning candidates to give room to those who contested with them to also be part of the party's scheme of work so that they would not feel isolated after losing the elections.
"The total unity that I witnessed during the election in my constituency has given me hope that we are on course", the MP said, adding that Ghanaians had already seen the difference in the good policies of the NPP and the bad performance of the NDC.
He, however, warned the party against complacency in spite of the poor performance of the NDC, explaining that the NPP should rather capitalise on the "no show" and intensify its campaign at the grass roots so as to win back the hearts of even the ruling party.
Mr Ayeh-Payeh commended supporters of the party in the Ayesuano Constituency for their sense of maturity, which ensured the successful conduct of the elections, and expressed hope that the elected executive would work towards improving on the performance of the party in the 2008 elections during the 2012 elections.
In the elections itself, Mr George Adjei won the chairmanship position, while Mr Christopher Agbemazi was elected as the First Vice-Chairman, with Mr Alexander Fianko winning the second vice-chairmanship slot.
Mr Martin Ofori Owura was elected as secretary, with Mr Joseph Appiah Dartey as his assistant, while Mr Joseph Gyan and Madam Comfort Danso were elected as organiser and treasurer respectively.
Mr Enerst Akuffo was elected as the youth organiser, while Ms Sandra Amoakie won the women's organiser position.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayensuano in the Eastern Region, Mr Samuel Ayeh-Paye, has expressed optimism that the various factions in the party will patch up their differences to pave the way for a resounding victory in the 2012 elections.
"The party has no choice but to work towards total unity, since without that it will be difficult for us to oust the National Democratic Congress from power during the next elections,” he said.
Mr Ayeh-Payeh told the Daily Graphic after supervising an election for the executive in his constituency that gradually, the party would be useful for the successful conduct of elections in most of the constituencies in order to have a positive impact at both regional and national elections.
He stated that everybody has a role to play in the party's agenda for 2012, and urged losing contestants at constituency, regional and national level elections not to sit on the fence, but assist with their ideas to enable the party to realise its dreams.
Mr Ayeh-Paye also impressed on the winning candidates to give room to those who contested with them to also be part of the party's scheme of work so that they would not feel isolated after losing the elections.
"The total unity that I witnessed during the election in my constituency has given me hope that we are on course", the MP said, adding that Ghanaians had already seen the difference in the good policies of the NPP and the bad performance of the NDC.
He, however, warned the party against complacency in spite of the poor performance of the NDC, explaining that the NPP should rather capitalise on the "no show" and intensify its campaign at the grass roots so as to win back the hearts of even the ruling party.
Mr Ayeh-Payeh commended supporters of the party in the Ayesuano Constituency for their sense of maturity, which ensured the successful conduct of the elections, and expressed hope that the elected executive would work towards improving on the performance of the party in the 2008 elections during the 2012 elections.
In the elections itself, Mr George Adjei won the chairmanship position, while Mr Christopher Agbemazi was elected as the First Vice-Chairman, with Mr Alexander Fianko winning the second vice-chairmanship slot.
Mr Martin Ofori Owura was elected as secretary, with Mr Joseph Appiah Dartey as his assistant, while Mr Joseph Gyan and Madam Comfort Danso were elected as organiser and treasurer respectively.
Mr Enerst Akuffo was elected as the youth organiser, while Ms Sandra Amoakie won the women's organiser position.
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