Ledzokuku NPP smokes peace pipe

After three years of protracted bitter quarrels, fighting and legal battles in the Ledzokuku Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the factions have finally smoked the peace pipe.
Consequently, the factions have vowed to get their act together to enable them win the seat with a wide margin.
The settlement of the disputes, which nearly led to a loss of the seat in the in the 2004 election was initiated by the Constituency Chairman, Mr Alfred Boye.
Each of the factions supported Mr Eddie Akita, former NPP MP for the constituency, and Dr (Mrs) Gladys Ashittey, the current MP.
The amicable settlement also earned the commendation of the National Chairman of the party, Mr Peter Mac Manu, who described the move as a show of maturity and readiness to increase the party’s votes in the area.
The chairman’s letter stated “It gladdens my heart to learn that at this meeting there was an open forum at which everyone was allowed to air his or her grievances, and also ... bring out the challenges facing members in the constituency.”
“I am also happy to hear that solutions have been found to all these challenges and the olive branch of peace has been extended and received by all concerned. This is no mean achievement on your part, given the circumstances which caused this split”, the letter added.
Two cows donated by the MP, Dr Ashittey were killed for the members of the various groups to seal to the peace pact.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, the groups expressed regret at what had happened, which nearly made the party lose the seat and commended the Constituency Chairman, Mr Boye, for initiating the reconciliation.
A former Constituency Treasurer and member of the Akita faction, Mr Emmanuel Nii Boye Ayalolo, said they had realised that the NPP was bigger than any individual ambition, hence their decision to reconcile with the current executive.
He said although they were struggling in the interest of the party, they had realised that they should let sleeping dogs lie and support the MP as well as the party to increase its votes in the constituency.
Another member of the Akita faction, Mr James Kotey Amon, expressed satisfaction at the reconciliation and pledged to support the current constituency executive.
According to constituency chairman, he was not daunted by the protracted nature of the problems, especially the deep-seated bitterness among the factions. “What spurred me on was the interest of the party”.
He said through the support of some constituency elders and well-wishers, the two factions were brought together to bury the hatchet and commended them for the display of maturity.
Mr Armah Sarbaah, the Constituency Secretary, said with the reconciliation, the party would have at least 60 per cent of the total votes cast.
He explained that because of the problem, in the 2004 elections, some of the embittered members supported the independent candidate who had 10,000 votes but had now joined National Democratic Congress (NDC). Dr Ashittey won the seat by 33,000 votes, while President Kufuor had 38,000. END