The Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD) has elected its founder, Mr Kwabena Adjei, as the flag-bearer for the December presidential election. At the first national delegates congress held at the Great Hall of the Kumasi Polytechnic last Saturday, Mr Adjei, popularly known as Bambata, a 45-year-old businessman in Kumasi polled 369 votes to beat the other contestant, Mrs Constance Pinamang, a businesswoman, who had 54 votes. Four ballot papers were rejected. The third candidate, Mr Hagan Brown, Chief Executive of Willburn Dental Clinic in Kumasi, pulled out of the race at the last minute. Mr Adjei, who used to be a member of the New Patoitic Party (NPP) branch in the Ashanti Region, contested for the regional organiser position at the last Ashanti Regional delegates' conference of the NPP and lost to the incumbent. The decision to quit the NPP to form the RPD, according to Mr Adjei, was premised on reasons, including the failure of the NPP to elect a "youthful person" as its flag-bearer. Turnout at the congress was heavy, which perhaps signalled the party's readiness to make a positive impact in the December elections. With high enthusiasm, party members came from all over the country and jammed the Great Hall of the polytechnic, while many who could not find space inside remained on the compound of the polytechnic. Refering to the crowd, the flag-bearer remarked: "Who says we are joking? I wish they were here to see things for themselves. "They say our party is visible only in the Ashanti Region. The large number of people here came from all the regions and it gives ample testimony that Ghanaians are yearning for a change," he said. Mr. Adjei added that, "We are going to give the NPP and the NDC the shock of their lives". A great majority of the delegates and other party members and supporters were the youth, underlying the motto of the party, "Youth in service for development". Four hundred and twenty seven delegates took part in the balloting, which was supervised by officials of the Electoral Commission. Only the Ghana National Party (GNP) attended the congress to give a fraternal message, even though RPD officials said they invited all the political parties. In his acceptance speech, Mr Adjei described the congress as one of the most important points in the history of the young party. He said Ghanaians were yearning for a change in the administration of the country, and that the RPD had positioned itself to take over in order to address the myriad of problems confronting majority of the people. The flag bearer said it was clear that the NPP government was not up to the task of managing the country to improve the living standards of the people. "The first four years of the NPP government was good but the second term has been a disaster for this nation," he said. Mr Adjei advised the electorate not to allow self-seeking politicians to sway them with money, saying, "You will be sending this country into wrong hands if you sell your votes". He questioned the basis for the EC's decision to use limited registration centres for the voters registration exercise when they knew that it would create problems for the exercise. Earlier, the acting General Secretary who was later elected to the substantive position at the congress, Mr. Francis Kyei, said the party would soon start the election of its parliamentary candidates. He said a government of the RPD would redeem Ghana Telecom for the state within the first 100 days in office if the NPP government went ahead to sell the 70 per cent shares. Other national executives elected at the congress were Mr. William Zigih Brown, national chairman, Mr. John Bediako, first national vice chairman, Mr. Isaac Donkor, second national vice chairman, Mr. Frank Agyei Badu, national organiser, Ms Rosemond Agyapong, women's organiser and Mr Joseph Boateng, youth organiser. Source: Daily Graphic