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           Acting Leader Insists Ghanaian Opposition Party Is United

   by Peter Clottey

   The acting chairman of Ghana's main opposition party says it's united
   in its determination to wrest power from President John Dramani Mahama
   in the upcoming elections, but backers of the New Patriotic Party say
   infighting may have eroded its prospects.

   Freddie Blay became acting chairman after the NPP suspended its
   chairman, Paul Afoko, over an alleged breach of the party's
   constitution; he is challenging the move in court. Nyaho Tamakloe, a
   prominent member of the NPP, called the appointment of Blay, formerly
   of the Convention People's Party, a "fundamental mistake."

   Blay "has no business whatsoever in the NPP, and indeed all our woes
   are coming from that man," local media quoted Tamakloe as saying. He
   alleged that Blay had "destroyed" the CPP, and said that "until Freddie
   Blay is kicked out of the NPP, we have no future."

   Most conflicts 'resolved'

   Blay disagreed, saying the NPP planned to win this year's poll despite
   the National Democratic Congress'  power of incumbency.

   "I am a team player," Blay said. He contended that the NPP presidential
   candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, was "campaigning hard and letting Ghanaians
   know what is happening in this country. He is adding his voice to the
   high voice of Ghanaians against the ineptitude, the corrupt government
   and incompetent leadership of President Mahama and his NDC party."

   "We've resolved most of those so-called conflicts that one perceives
   the party to be bogged down with," Blay added. "Let me emphasize that.
   We are more united than what people may think."

   The governing NDC has rejected accusations that it is to blame for the
   opposition party's woes. Supporters of the NDC say the NPP needs to
   look itself in the mirror after indefinitely suspending its chairman
   and its general secretary, Kwabena Agyapong.

   Meanwhile, the NPP has expressed concern about voter registration in
   Ghana, saying a new list should be compiled before the elections
   because the current one is bloated with noncitizens and minors. If the
   problem isn't resolved, the "bloated" register will undermine the
   integrity of the polls, the NPP contends.

   "We are definitely not happy. ... Irrespective of that, our foot
   soldiers are ready and working hard and seeing to it that nothing
   untoward happens further. Be it as it may, we are definitely not happy
   with the register which would be used for the election," Blay said.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/acting-leader-insists-ghanaian-opposi
   tion-party-is-united/3310291.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/acting-leader-insists-ghanaian-opposition-party-is-united/3310291.html