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Three Takoradi-based businessmen have entered the chairmanship race of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Western Region. They are Messrs Dickson Atta Nketsia, Paa Payne, and Nana Owusu Ankomah. The three, according to credible information obtained by The Finder, have already started jostling seriously for support from grassroots members of the party. Currently, the party in the region is chaired by Nana Owusu Ankomah, blood brother of Papa Owusu Ankomah, one-time minister of state and incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the Sekondi Constituency. He won the chairmanship position for two consecutive times and would be attempting his third-term bid. Mr Nketsia, known popularly in the region as Kendicks, was once the First Regional-Vice Chairman of the party when Mr Peter Mac Manu was the Regional Chairman. As the First Regional Vice-Chairman, Mr Nketsia contested for the position to elevate his status in the party. Unfortunately, he lost to Nana Owusu Ankomah, the incumbent Regional Chairman who had tremendous support from the party. In 2010, Nana Owusu Ankomah, who was running for his second term in office, beat Mr Kwasi Blay, former Deputy Western Regional Chairman of the party, who appeared at the time as one of the strongest elements threatening to unseat the Regional Chairman. As the contest for the regional executive positions looms, information obtained by The Finder indicates that the most attractive side of the race was the regional chairmanship. The three candidates in the race, according to party supporters, have all attempted to lead the party in the region and therefore the stakes are high. Kendicks gave Nana Owusu Ankomah a good run for his money during the first contest that elected the latter into office in 2005 to take charge of the party in the region. In 2010, the former opted out and threw his weight behind Mr Kwasi Blay, who unfortunately lost the slot narrowly to Nana Owusu Ankomah. Mr Paa Payne, on the other hand, would be trying his luck for the second time when the contest is opened in March. Although Mr Payne appears more prepared now than ever before, party supporters indicate that he is the only candidate in the race who has never been tried as an executive; therefore he would be going into the race with clean sheet as his trump card. Nana Ankomah, on the hand, would be required to defend his legacy and promote his chances in the race. Kendicks on his part would be required by the party supporters to state his achievements as the First Vice-Chairman of the party under the rein of Mr Peter Mac Manu. The main concern of many party faithful as The Finder observed is the dwindling fortunes of the party in the region in the last two general elections which the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) won. Before 2009, the NPP was the largest political party in the region with the highest number of seats in Parliament. However, the party has since the 2008 elections lost control of the region to the incumbent NDC. The worst, and perhaps the hardest, defeat the party suffered in the hand of the NDC was in 2012 when all the middle belt seats under the control of the NPP fell to the NDC. Generally, the party lost the region in both presidential and parliamentary. As a result, many concerned party members have been aggrieved and are calling for all serving executives to be voted out. They are also asking for competent materials to be elected as regional executives to take charge of activities of the party.