Return text message – J.B da Rocha

Former National Chairman and founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. J.B da Rocha has expressed worry over the sinister campaign being run by some presidential aspirants of the party.

It said it was wrong for any of the contestants to believe that they could destroy others without any effect on themselves.

Addressing the NPP's Founder Forum in Accra, Mr. da Rocha asked party members to disregard text messages being sent by faceless people to discredit some presidential aspirants of the party.

The forum which was organized at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) as part of the 15th anniversary of the NPP was meant to honour the Founding members of the party.

The NPP, an off-shoot of the Daquah-Busia tradition, was founded in 1992 and was in opposition for eight years before winning elections in 2000.

Commenting on the indifference and lack of enthusiasm among party faithfuls, Mr. da Rocha warned that if care was not taken, NPP would slide into opposition.

The sprit that motivated us to bring the party into power is not as strong as it used to be.

I see signs of indifferences and lack of enthusiasm in the party.

''If care is not taken, we will slide into failure and this must not be allowed to happen'', he said.

He therefore called for efforts to rejuvenate the party faithful and rekindle their flagging spirits to ensure victory for the party in the 2008 general elections.

Mr. da Rocha who received a standing ovation for his unswerving loyalty and contribution to the NPP, said the ruling party was becoming a political organization which did not know how to honour its heroes and heroines.

He said he had received complaints from a number of NPP members about the inability of the party to give them recognition for their efforts and contributions.

The National Chairman of the NPP, Mr. Peter Mac Manu was of the opinion that the achievements of the party now would not have been possible without the sacrifices of members.

A former NPP Chairman, Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey said that the loyalty of party members should be defined by the principles and policies of the party, rather than by any reward they hoped to get in future.