Scores of New Patriotic Party sympathisers and members in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday tripped over each other amid scuffles in a mad rush for T-shirts of Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, the incumbent Chairman of the party’s Afigya Kwabre South constituency who is hoping to become the next regional chairman.

Hordes of young men and women besieged the conference venue at Ejisu as early as 5 am in anticipation of the arrival of party executives for the conference, which was scheduled to begin at 9 am.

Despite the cost of GHS50, the scores of anxious youth rushed in for multiples of the T-shirts and other paraphernalia.

Others were also seen taking off their clothes and jostling among party officials for Odeneho-branded souvenirs.

Those who were unable to secure the shirts but managed to get the regional chairman hopeful’s branded caps were seen in an ecstatic mood.

A few others were seen engaging in hot verbal exchanges over the T-shirts.

It is unclear how the branded shirts and paraphernalia got to the venue but sources say it is a usual strategy used by businesspeople to profit from aspirants.

Mr Sampson Kwabena Agyeman, who spoke with the media on the development, explained that people make good money from popular contestants.

"You see, these business people do their own survey based on popularity and the people’s choice. ...And, so, it’s possible Odeneho Kwaku Appiah is more popular than his contenders – maybe”, he surmised.

A crowd of supporters thronged Mr Kwaku Appiah later in the day amidst chanting of appellations and frantic pleas to the delegates to change the leadership of the party in the region.

At the same event, Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah called on supporters of the party to unite to break the eight, adding that unnecessary tension and radio arguments do not win elections.

“Let me use this opportunity to plead with all gathered here that it’s only unity that can win us another election”, he said, stressing: “We must unite our front to make our breaking the right slogan a reality”.