BARELY A month after being handed a certificate by the Electoral Commission (EC) to operate as a political party, the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD) is in deep financial crisis, the party's acting Treasurer has announced.

The RPD, which claims to be a breakaway group of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), got its final certificate from the EC on March 14, this year, but sadly the young party is on its knees begging for funds.

According to Kwame Manu Sarpong, the acting Treasurer, RPD was cash-strapped and was in dire need of funds to embark on a vigorous campaign to unseat the NPP government in the December polls.

'The party's followers are increasing in alarming proportions across the country as the days go by; indeed, we have the men but our number one enemy is cash.

'Financially we are weak and this needs to be addressed immediately to enable us realize our dream of attaining political power in the upcoming elections,' Manu Sarpong said.

The Treasurer however gave the assurance that the party was on sound footing to shock the electorate by emerging victorious in the upcoming general elections.

'Politics is done with numbers and right now we have the people behind us so we are going for victory in December.'

Mr. Sarpong made the remarks during the official inauguration of RPD as a political party at the Miklin Hotel in Kumasi last Saturday.

The programme, which included fund-raising and dinner dance was attended by some prominent business executives in the Garden City; notable among them was Alhaji Moro, a popular car dealer.

Conspicuously missing at the well attended programme were representatives of the other political parties, including the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

In his remarks, Kwabena Adjei, aka 'Bambata', the Founder and acting Chairman of RPD, stated that the party was formed with the sole aim of serving the interest of the youth, who are the future leaders.

He lamented the non-availability of jobs for the Ghanaian youth and entreated the youth to rally behind the party to ensure a better future.

Bambata enumerated ten areas which would receive massive attention from an RPD government.

He mentioned that education development, free health care, decentralization and modern agricultural practices would be among their priorities as well as fair distribution of the national cake to all the regions of the country.

The rest, Bambata stated, included ensuring affordable housing for the ordinary Ghanaian; reduction of fuel prices; support for the aged; sports promotion and regional initiatives.

The RPD Founder was of the conviction that the country would attain prosperity when the RPD gets the opportunity to implement the aforementioned policies and urged the electorate to give the party the mandate in the upcoming polls.

Touching on the history of RPD, Mr. Adjei said the party was an offspring of the United Youngsters Club which also came from the Ashanti Youth Club, formed in 1995.

The Acting General Secretary of RPD, Francis Kyei, in his remarks, stated that the party would bring real change in every aspect of the Ghanaian economy and called on the electorate to vote for the RPD.

He promised that the party would restructure the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) introduced by the NPP government and make it more effective to enable every unemployed youth in the country become gainfully employed.

From Fred J.A. Ibrahim Jnr., & Morgan Owusu, Kumasi