For once Cape Coast supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Sunday heaved a sigh of relief when the party held a peaceful constituency election.The election was held under heavy police presence and no acts of misbehaviour from any groups of supporters was recorded.

The elections started as early as 9am at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) Medical School auditorium, where supporters of various candidates clad in party paraphernalia, sang and danced to songs like "Aye Huhuhuu" by Daddy Lumba. Others also used the occaisson to campaign for their candidates.

The auditorium became very noisy and rowdy when the former constituency chairman, Frank Hutchful surfaced in the middle of the elections. He was booed and jeered by a section of supporters, but calmly, he walked straight to the electoral officers, asked for his ballot paper, cast his vote and waited for a while before he left the auditorium.

At the helm of affairs was Kwamena Duncan, Central Regional NPP Secretary, who made sure that the voting process was in order, while the Central Regional Director of Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Samuel Tettey, and his supporting officers made things smooth.

At the Medical auditorium, two separate campaign sheets, one depicting a picture of Nana Amissah, alias Iron Lady and her team with the inscription "The Visionary Team", while others supported Benjamin Ebow Parker, a contractor and his team, with the inscription "the competent, winning team", which was circulated among the observers.

At the end of over nine hours, the competent winning team, which is said to be supported by Christine Churcher, former Member of Parliament for Cape Coast, swept all the nine executive positions at stake.

When the result was announced, Mr. Benjamin Ebow Parker emerged the constituency chairman as he polled 454 votes to beat Nana Amissah, a former special assistant to Christine Churcher. The second vice chairman went to a UCC lecturer, Dr. Mrs Henrietta Abane who polled 537 votes, the highest among them all.

The other officers are Anthony Allan Forson, second vice chairman, Stephen Folly, Secretary and Akilu Mohammed Salisu, Assistant Secretary. The Women's Organiser position went to Hannah Thompson, Mohammed Mustapha Ahmed got the Youth Organiser position, while Stephen Kojo Arhin clinched the treasurer portfolio.

The controversial Joseph Kobina Ward, who describes himself as Okatakyie and Kojo Ababio won the Organizer position, which was the most keenly contested position in the election. This is because Ward, once an NPP activist, crossed carpet to the then opposition NDC and staged a comeback to the NPP in the heat of 2008 general elections. He explained his name Ababio to the NPP supporters that he was like an Israelite who went on exile and returned with knowledge to his homeland, an explanation that made Christine Churcher excited at the high table.

Another event that was historic was the election of Dr Mrs Abane as the first woman vice chairperson of the party and people expressed the hope that she would bring her experience to bear to help the party recapture the seat from the NDC in 2012.

On the other hand, the visionary team led by Nana Amissah was said to have been ditched by the presence of Baba Issah, a former Constituency Organiser whose ambitious decision of becoming the first vice after continuous persuasion from the group to rescind his decision because he was among the old executives who led the party down in 2008.Baba Issah was the candidate who polled 96 votes, the least among the visionary team.

After Christine Churcher's group had swept the whole executive positions, Lumba's 'Nana is a winner' song blazed the trail at the place, while other NPP members danced the Kangaroo dance.

The vociferous Central Regional NPP Secretary, Kwamena Duncan, thanked the delegates for conducting themselves well at the polls and urged all other constituencies to emulate Cape Coast. He swore the new executives and urged them to work diligently to win the seat back for NPP in 2012.

Mr. Parker, in a short speech, thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work hard to win the Cape Coast seat back. Among those who witnessed the election were Mrs Nancy Thompson, 2008 NPP parliamentary aspirant, Lawyer Ato Amponsah Dadzie, NPP 2008 parliamentary candidate and Kojo Mensah alias Kojo Alata, an elder of the party who came in the middle of the election to cast his vote.

Others are former Metropolitan Chief Executive of Cape Coast, Ms Mercy Arhin and Ms Sally Garbrah, a staunch NPP supporter. Attached picture shows Mr Ebow Parker, new NPP constituency chairman for Cape Coast.