The Atiwa District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Attah-Twum, has been elected as the parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the forth coming by-election at Atiwa. Mr Attah-Twum was elected by popular acclamation, due to the late withdrawal of his only challenger, Mr Samuel Nana Agyapong, a businessman, from the contest, at the party's congress held at Kwabeng, at the weekend. The Electoral Commission had announced August 31 as the date for the by-election, which has become vacant as a result of the death of the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Kwasi Annor Ankamah, some few weeks ago. Speaking at the congress, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu- Ampofo, said although the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) had occupied the Atiwa seat since 1996, "this time round, the NDC was going to take it away from them". The Regional Minister said the Atiwa District had benefited from many development projects within the few months that the NDC had been in government and urged the people in the area to reject the NPP and vote massively for the NDC for more development. The Constituency Chairman, Mr John Amponsah Kyei, assured the party that it would win the by- election. He said the party executive was working hard to ensure that good strategies were put in place to snatch the seat from the opposition NPP for the fist time since 1996. Mr Amponsah-Kyei noted that under the able leadership of the District Chief Executive, who is now the candidate of the party, school children within the district had received their share of school uniforms and exercise books distributed by the government recently. He appealed to all supporters and sympathizers of the party to close their ranks and rally behind Mr Attah- Twum to win the seat. In his acceptance speech, Mr Attah-Twum, who was confident of winning the by-election, said the good works of the NDC would help him to win the seat for the first time since 1996. "We shall pull a surprise in this by-election because we are preparing seriously" he maintained. The congress was witnessed by the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Mohammed Babal-Jamal and some regional and national executive of the ruling party, including Mr Anthony Gyampoh, Regional Secretary, Mr Tawiah Boateng, Regional Organizer and Mr George Lawson, Deputy General Secretary. Source: GNA