NPP delegates vote out Ashanti regional chairman

The Ashanti Regional Delegates’ Conference of the New Patriotic Party has elected Fredrick F. Anto as the new chairman in a keenly contested election.

After being postponed on a number of occasions, the Conference was finally held on Monday February 1.

The newly elected regional executives were sworn in by the out going national party chairman Peter Mac Manu after the elections.

The postponement of the Conference was due to an injunction slapped on the process by the former Asante Akyem North Constituency Chairman of the party, Nana Adu Asabre. He contended that the manner in which the constituency elections in the region was being carried out could leave many disenfranchised.

There were widespread cases of alleged manipulation of election process including denial of registration forms to some people.

At the end of Monday’s elections however Fredrick F. Anto polled 470 votes to beat incumbent regional chair Robert Amankwah who raked in 267 votes to become the new Ashanti regional chairman.

Other members who were also elected included Alhaji Shaibu Musa Sheriff who is now the first vice chair, Kwabena Senkyere was also elected as the second vice chair.

Other newly elected executives include Sam Pyne regional secretary, Kwabena Asamoah Boateng, Deputy second secretary, Hagar Asante, treasurer, Kennedy Kankam Regional Organizer, Regional women’s organizer, Alberta Owusu Ansah and Regional Youth Organizer Gideon Boafo.

Meanwhile the General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, told Citi News in an interview that the elections were generally peaceful except some protests from Obuasi.

“It has been peaceful except for a little protest from Obuasi against the Obuasi constituency delegates…they were allowed to vote but after that I think every thing has been peaceful”.

The confusion came about as the eligibility of some delegates from Obuasi was questioned.

The Ashanti region which is one of the NPP’s strong hold is the last region to be cleared before the party holds its national delegates conference, slated for the 27th of this month.