GBARNGA, Bong – The Bong County branch of the ruling Unity Party has concluded a reconciliation meeting aimed at resolving longstanding differences among members and officials.

“Today I am happy to see the seven electoral districts of Bong County present here today,” Robert Wongbay, chairman of Unity Party’s Bong County chapter, addressed attendees. “This meeting was planned two weeks ago when we last met as leadership. We saw that there was some little bitterness among us.”

According to Wongbay, the friction was created among party members as a result of the 2014 special senatorial election, where party members had to split votes and support between Ranney B. Jackson and Henrique F. Tokpa.

Tokpa was unable to secure the party’s nomination to contest the election and ran as an independent. The incumbent, Jewel Howard-Taylor, won by a slim margin over Tokpa.

“This bitterness we saw came about in 2014, especially during the period of the special senatorial elections,” Wongbay said. “And we need to have it resolved so that we can stand a better chance as a ruling party in the upcoming 2017 presidential and representative elections.”

He attributed the idea behind the meeting to Rep. Prince K. Moye of Bong’s second electoral district, who made the recommendation for a reconciliation meeting following a visit by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

The meeting comes just before Unity Party’s national convention, which will be hosted in Bong County, from July 7-9. The convention is expected to produce a candidate to run on the party’s ticket in the 2017 elections.

Vice President Joseph N. Boakai and Togar McIntosh, the former minister of planning, are expected to be the two contenders to be the party’s standard-bearer.