Pollster Ben Ephson says a new party being mooted in the Ashanti Region could hurt the presidential bid of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). He said while the impact of the United Front Party may not be felt in the parliamentary elections, the havoc it could wreck on the chances of the party’s presidential candidate cannot be overlooked. A group of about sixteen people, said to be linked to twice-failed flag-bearer aspirant, Alan Kyerematen are holding consultations in Kumasi with the view to forming the United Front Party. The 16 include two unnamed sitting MPs, a former MP and a number of key officers who lost their bid to be elected executives at the recent congress in Kumasi. When Joy News reached some of them, they denied any involvement in the formation of the UFP, describing the reports as unfounded. They told Joy News they were shocked when they first heard the reports and have also been speaking to the other persons thought to be on the list but they have also denied any such moves. A Kumasi-based businessman (name withheld) who is said to be a major financier of the Alan campaign is alleged to be key in the formation of the new party. Even though sources close to Mr. Kyerematen, who is being considered as the presidential candidate of the UFP, say the former Trades Minister has distanced himself from the activities of the group, Mr Ephson, whose newspaper, the Daily Dispatch published the alleged formation of the new political party, believes Mr Kyerematen must make a public denial of his suspected involvement with the upcoming party. Even then, he doubts if Mr Kyerematen can stop the group if their motivation is to damage the chances of the opposition party. Ben Ephson said the situation is particularly worrying for the NPP because the base of the yet-to-be-formed UFP is also the political 'World Bank' of the opposition party. Source: Joy News/Ghana