Polling station chairmen, foot soldiers and other activists of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of the Ablekuma Central Constituency have warned that if promises made to them are not fulfilled they will quit. A statement issued to the press said they are going through hardships and their plight must be addressed before disgracing themselves. “After the party has stayed in power for almost seven years, the foot soldiers have been forgotten and none of the foot soldiers have seen a change in their lifestyles and right now there are troubles in our marriage homes where some of us cannot pay our children’s school fees and even most of us are thrown out of our homes because we cannot face our responsibilities,” it revealed. The group says during previous political campaigns promises were made to them but the party hierarchy has failed to fulfill. A statement signed by Mr. Nat Lawrence Hesse on behalf of the polling station chairmen and the foot soldiers said the promises were given as far back as 1998 during the by-election necessitated by the death of the then MP, Mr. Sam Crabbe. It said because of the crucial nature of the seat to the NPP, which was then in opposition, a loss would have added to efforts by the NDC to achieve a 2/3 majority in Parliament. At this point, it said, top NPP officials who are now in government met the foot soldiers and the polling station chairmen and promised that, if we are able to work and win the by-election, that will be the sign of winning the 2000 elections and the way to the Castle. On this promise, we the foot soldiers campaigned day and night, moving from house to house and with our strong messages to the people, the party won the by-election. Top officials, including Mr Samuel Odoi-Sykes, former Chairman and Mr. Dan Botwe, then General Secretary promised that the foot soldiers at Ablekuma Central would be the first foot soldiers to be honoured in terms of human development. Truly, we worked tirelessly and the NPP won the by-election, and around the 2000 election we stood firm and again won the general election which made the NPP the ruling government, it said. We want the NPP government to come out and address these issues; other than that, we will not involve ourselves in any critical party activities within the constituency, the statement warned. Source: GNA