Elimina — The former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency Chairman of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA), Mr Agyeman Kessie, has been sacked by the current Executive Body of the party for "gross misconduct which threatens the unity of the party in the constituency."

He was also accused of failing to surrender office equipment to the current executives when he lost the Chairmanship in 2005 to Nana Appiah Korang.

Speaking at a Press Conference in Elmina on Wednesday, Appiah Korang, current Constituency Chairman of NPP, announced that Mr. Kessie was "sacked for penly declaring his intention to contest as an independent candidate in the December 7 general elections."

According to Appiah Korang, the constitution of the NPP "bared members from contesting against their parliamentary candidates therefore, by openly declaring his ambition to contest on radio, Mr Agyeman Kessie had automatically expelled himself from the party."

He alledged that Mr Agyeman Kessie, who was constituency Chairman from 1998 to 2005, has "diabolic intention of derailing NPP's quest to win the KEEA seat by splitting votes meant for the party."

Appiah Korang accused Mr. Kessie as bent on undermining the bid by Nana Ato Arthur, Central Regional Minister, who was elected unopposed at the party's primary last year.

He also accused Mr. Kessie of "holding secret meetings with some party members with the bid to distract the party's forward march in the constituency."

Meanwhile, Dominic Mark Aaba, Constituency Secretary, refuted the allegations that GH¢20 million (GH¢2,000) nomination fee was demanded by the executives to ward-off poor potential candidates from contesting the Regional Minister's position.

He said the fee was initially proposed to be GH¢2,000 but regional executives advised them to reduce it to GH¢500 (¢5million), which was made known at the party office through a notice. But our sources told us that the ¢5 million was only announced a day before the close of the party's nominations.

Francis Ekow Asmah, First Vice Chairman of the party told Chronicle that a lot of avenues were provided for Kessie to voice out his grievances but he failed to take advantage of them.

The NDC has elected Dr. Joseph Samuel Annan, UN consultant as KEEA parliamentary candidate while Nana Ato Arthur has been elected on the ticket of NPP.

CPP is yet to file their candidate.