The polling station chairmen of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Biakoye Constituency of the Volta Region, have expressed serious concern about what they perceived as the dwindling fortunes of the party in the area. According to them, even though it was an election year, party activities in the Constituency appeared to be non-existent. In a petition dated February 18, 2008, and which was addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Peter Mac Manu, the polling station chairmen stated that, they had been watching the activities of some elements within the party for the past few months and had come to the realisation that the party would be doomed if they failed to notify the party leadership about problems confronting the constituency. They traced the genesis of the party's problems in the constituency to the last parliamentary primary, which they claimed was manipulated by the constituency chairman, Mr Anane Forson. According to them, the only way that the party could revive its fortunes in the Constituency was to re-open nominations. Firing more salvos at the Constituency chairman, the polling station chairmen alleged that, Mr Forson resorted to the skewing and manipulation of the democratic process to favour his cronies when nominations were opened the last time. "This became evidently clear when he refused to allow other interested aspirants to pick up nomination forms and file as per the party's constitution and internal democratic practice for fear that his favourite would not be given the nod at the primary", the disenchanted party members explained. According to them, in as much as they cherished and respected consultations, levelled playing field in matters of democracy and unity of their party, they also detested intrigues that were detrimental to their very existence as lovers of democracy. They also stated in the petition that, party members in the constituency were confused as to who their candidate was even though the party had finished the primaries for all the orphan constituencies across the country. The polling station chairmen alleged that, Mr. Forson was manipulating the process in order to have one Nana Owusu Yeboah to be imposed on the constituency against the wishes of the party members. According to them, such an imposition would not augur well for the party, because the consequences could stretch beyond the boundaries of Biakoye. The party members warned that, if the party failed in the next two weeks to re-open the primaries and allow Nana Yeboah to contest, they would have no option than to vote for any candidate of their choice. Sixty (60) polling station and twelve other opinion leaders signed the petition. Source: Crusading Guide