Coalition Of Young Liberals (COYLIB) On Matters Arising

The COALITION OF YOUNG LIBERALS (COYLIB) are concerned with the recent developments that have taken place after the adjudication of the election petition at the Supreme Court, and if care is not taken, our beloved party may repeat the same mistakes it did during the 2008 and 2012 elections.
We support an election that is safe, credible, free, and fair for our electorate and constituents across the length and breadth of the nation.

As a standard of care, we also believe is a duty for various candidates to campaign responsibly and adhering to the parties' electoral code of conduct.

We did not only receive inflammatory and derogatory comments from our opponents and competitors but we also lost the election due to some of our utterances during the intra party politics and campaigns. Such rhetoric's threatens the stability the party.

We also witnessed one of the “uncivilised” campaigns in the annals of our country during the 2012 election. Our opponents capitalised on all sorts of information that emanated from our intra-party elections, which tarnished both presidential and parliamentary candidates' images. In one way or the other, this affected our fortunes.

We will urge all polling stations, constituencies, regional, and national executives to be civil, responsible, and refrain from insults. Instead, we should focus on issue-based campaigns that address the needs of the citizenry.

The COYLIB would want the electorate to be committed to the course of the party, have an understanding of the party's goals, and choose selfless, hardworking, and patriotic leaders who are committed to the course of the development of the party without any form of inducement.

We will also plead and urge the NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) and the NATIONAL COUNCIL of the New Patriotic party to take a critical look into these problems; institute tough measures to enhance and prevent what has become a periodic and systematic problem for the past years during intra-party election:

a. The power brokers and party stalwarts must engage in a healthy intra party discourse to prevent the unnecessary attention being created in the party. These top notch leaders must avoid being overly caught up in media.

b. Aspiring candidates at parliamentary, regional and national elections must avoid the campaign of affiliation with Presidential Candidates. This has been a worrying trend because hardworking candidates are relegated to the background and this has led to disillusion and it is uninspiring to the electorate. The repercussions for this 'affiliation' have brought discord and discomfort to our cherished members.

c. Separating the Polling station executives from polling agents. The polling station executives must be a commanding force for recruiting volunteers (committed polling agents). The polling station executives will consult with the parliamentary candidates to train and equip them for the next general election. They must make regular contact with polling agents (Volunteers) and help reach out to the electorate in the clubs, schools, streets, mosques, churches etc., in their various constituencies.

d. There should also be conflict management training for all candidates and their communication members. The training will engage the candidates in positive politics.

e. Provide a level playing field for all. This is fundamental right of every single member in the party and must be respected at all times. This will prevent the hate-filled speeches, mudslinging, and name-calling but it will instead draw focus to issue-based campaign messages.

f. Avoid the imposition of exorbitant fees for aspiring candidates because these huge fees keep out the honest, committed and patriotic candidates from our party.

The COYLIB would like to state clearly that politics is not a rocket science and we believe politics is also about numbers, policies and sharing of ideas. The future of our democracy depends on our ability to deal with complex problems. This ability can be achieved while thinking together and making meaning of these problems to create good atmosphere for all of us. A healthy discussion will inure to our benefits towards the challenges a head in 2016. We think the time is now for NEC and the NATIONAL COUNCIL to find a lasting solution to these problems.

The COALITION OF YOUNG LIBERALS (COYLIB) will advice all aspiring candidates to be circumspect in their utterances during any elections in the party and we will not shield anyone who brings the party's name into disrepute.

As iron sharpens iron; so every member in the party sharpens each other for the elections ahead in 2016. Members must remember that a bronze cannot sharpen iron; unity must be paramount.

God Bless Ghana.

COYLIB

SIGNED:

Samuel O Donkor (Convener of the COYLIB--UK Chapter

+447930069140)

Kwame Owusu (Leading Member, Ghana Chapter)

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