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The much-talked about Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) congress which was saddled with court injunctions finally came off yesterday at the Ghana National Cultural Centre (GNCC) in Kumasi amidst tight security. Armed police officers were seen stationed at vantage points at the election grounds to maintain law and order during the polls whose outcome saw Yaw Robert Owusu Amankwah, the incumbent chairman, polling 267 as opposed to Frederick Fredua Anto�s 421, who won the day. In the First Vice Chairmanship category, Nana Opong polled 52, Nana Ochere Bonsu, 204, Dr. Kwame Asubonteng, 41, Alhaji Sheriff, former Ghana Ambassador to Guinea, 395. In the 2nd Vice Chairmanship race, Kwesi Acheampong pulled out at the last minute, with Sam Cudjoe polling 313 and Kwabena Nsenkyira, 366. For the position of Secretary, John Owusu Boakye polled 253 and Sam Pyne, 435 whilst for Assistant Secretary, Samuel Owusu Afriyie garnered 240 votes as opposed to Kwame Asamoah Boateng�s 453. For Treasurer, Hagar Asante got 480, beating John Atiemo who polled 213. In the race for the position of Organiser, Opoku Bonsu annexed 283 votes, Sekyerehene Agyapong, 9, Ben Abdallah, 65 and Kennedy Kankam, 335. As regards the Women�s Organiser slot, Mary Brobbey had 329 votes, with Alberta Owusu Ansah garnering 323 votes. The Youth Organiser went to Gideon Buoko who polled 394 whilst Agyenim Boateng got 48 and Kweku Frimpong, 249. Policemen detailed to the venue acted in a professional manner. Exhibiting professionalism, the police prevented non-delegates from entering the election grounds, allowing only those mandated to vote to enter. Prior to the elections which was called off on several occasions due to injunctions, rumours were rife in town that something nasty could happen on the voting day. Speculations about the arrival of muscularly-built men at the instance of some contestants turned out to be untrue by the time the polls ended. Even party faithful that were denied entry to the election grounds by the police officers were seen singing and dancing to the party tunes outside the venue. One of the police officers, in a chat with DAILY GUIDE, said he was extremely happy with the civilized manner in which the NPP delegates conducted themselves. According to him, the police were yet to encounter any difficulty with regard to maintaining peace and order at the place as at 4:00pm, adding, �My brother, with a closely-contested election of this nature, the NPP fans have done a yeoman�s job.� In all, 724 delegates cast their ballots to select nine people to occupy the vacant positions and steer the affairs of the party in its strongest fortress for the next four years. The polls started around 11:00am just after the contestants and the party�s National Chairman, Peter Mac Manu, had taken turns to address the mammoth crowd. Enthusiastic-looking delegates of the party were seen storming the venue for the historic event as early as 6:00 am, amid singing of party tunes and chants of names of their favourites. The euphoric atmosphere at the election venue suddenly caught up with the entire Garden City in a matter of minutes, as every corner of the city was seen painted with the red, white and blue colours of the NPP. Residents of the hitherto quiet city, notably market women, were for the first time since the 2008 polls, seen dressed in the party�s colours even as they sold their wares. The carnival atmosphere which had characterized the election process at the GNCC also manifested at every nook and cranny of the regional capital, with party faithful sounding confident about their beloved NPP bouncing back into political power in 2012. Considering the manner in which the party�s colours had been used to paint the Garden City, one could think that the next general election was just around the corner. Sharing his view with DAILY GUIDE, Kwabena Nsenkyire, who contested for the First Vice Chairman position, said he was so elated to see the colours of the NPP flying high in Kumasi again after many months of slumber. �We have been quiet for a long time. We have failed to announce our presence in the city which is our stronghold since our shocking defeat to the NDC in the last elections.� Nsenkyire, who is the Assemblyman for Dichemso/Moshie Zongo electoral area in the Manhyia Constituency, noted that the emergence of the party�s colours would send a strong warning to the ruling NDC that the NPP was as vibrant as ever and ready to win the next polls. He entreated the party�s numerous supporters to sustain the momentum even after the successful end of the congress so as to make campaigning for the 2012 polls a bit easier and smooth.