NPP Oti Regional Executives must deliver or face delegates’ verdict – Biakoye Youth Organiser

The newly elected Oti Regional executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) must fulfil their campaign promises, maintain unity and provide decisive leadership if the party is to regain political power, NPP Youth Organiser for the Biakoye Constituency, Samuel Takyi, popularly known as Booster, has said.

Speaking on the Bubune Morning Show, hosted by Nana Yaw Asiamah, Mr Takyi said the outcome of the recent constituency and regional elections reflected a strong desire among delegates for a change in leadership.

He said about 70 per cent of constituency-level executives were replaced during the elections, with some constituencies witnessing almost complete changes in their executive teams.

According to him, the development demonstrated that party members were demanding a new approach and expected the newly elected executives to justify the confidence placed in them.

“People yearned for change—a change in leadership,” he said.

Mr Takyi expressed confidence in the calibre of the new regional executives, describing them as accomplished individuals with the professional experience and expertise required to lead the party.

He cited Regional Chairman Dr Frank Yirenkyi, Regional Secretary Dr Frank Awuah and First Vice Chairman Lawyer Alewaba, among others, as members of what he described as a strong leadership team.

He said Dr Yirenkyi’s calm and patient disposition should not be mistaken for weakness, stressing that effective leadership requires a balance between firmness and fairness.

“When someone is calm, it doesn’t mean the person is weak. That is just his nature. He is gentle and patient,” he said.

Mr Takyi, however, cautioned that professional credentials alone would not guarantee success unless the executives were able to translate their experience into effective leadership and tangible results.

“The responsibility is now on them. They are the ones leading us,” he stated.

He urged the new leadership to develop clear strategies and provide direction for party members, particularly amid the economic challenges facing many Ghanaians.

He also said the NPP must address concerns among its supporters over the gap between promises made while the party was in opposition and its record in government.

Unity key to NPP’s comeback

Mr Takyi identified unity as a critical factor in the NPP’s efforts to regain political power, warning that internal divisions could undermine even the most competent leadership.

“Victory comes through unity,” he said.

He described Dr Yirenkyi as a leader capable of fostering unity because of his calm, approachable and patient nature.

According to him, political disagreements should not turn party members into enemies, as people with differing views can still work together in the interest of the party and the region.

He expressed confidence that a united NPP could mount a strong challenge against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in future elections.

Regional Organiser race surprises Booster

Reflecting on the recent election results, Mr Takyi identified the Regional Organiser contest as the outcome that surprised him most.

He said expectations had been high for Oti Abu, but Emmanuel Bonda eventually secured the position.

Mr Takyi attributed Mr Bonda’s victory partly to the message he communicated during his engagements with delegates across the region.

He explained that a candidate’s visibility, performance and ability to present a convincing message could significantly influence delegates’ choices.

According to him, delegates reward executives who fulfil their promises but are also prepared to replace those who fail to meet expectations.

He cited the return of Yaa Mame Olivia Aglago as Women’s Organiser as an example of how delegates assess performance over time.

Mr Takyi noted that Aglago narrowly lost the previous election by one vote after a recount but returned to win the latest contest with 152 votes against Mame Alice Mensah’s 60.

He said the result showed that political fortunes could change when candidates strengthen their grassroots organisation and maintain good relationships with delegates.

Alewaba’s persistence paid off

On the First Vice Chairman contest, Mr Takyi suggested that Lawyer Alewaba’s previous attempts at securing the position may have contributed to his eventual victory.

He noted that the lawyer was contesting for the third time and said repeated attempts could generate familiarity and sympathy among delegates.

He nonetheless stressed that competence remained an important consideration, saying delegates wanted the party’s top regional positions occupied by people capable of lobbying, negotiating and effectively representing the interests of the party and the region.

He said he was therefore not surprised by Lawyer Alewaba’s victory and had anticipated that he would record one of the highest vote totals.

Winning power must remain the goal

Mr Takyi said the ultimate purpose of the NPP’s constituency, regional and national-level internal elections should be to position the party to regain political power.

He noted that the party had lost the Krachi East parliamentary seat, which had previously been its only parliamentary representation in the Oti Region.

He therefore urged the new regional executives to work towards improving the party’s performance in both presidential and parliamentary elections.

“Nothing more, nothing less. That’s all. All our constituency, regional, and national executive elections lead to one ultimate goal: winning power,” he said.

He warned that failure to deliver could expose the executives to criticism and prompt delegates to reconsider their choices in future internal elections.

Mr Takyi urged the new leadership to at least maintain, or preferably surpass, the standards established by their predecessors.

“You must be able to beat that standard, or at least maintain it. I always tell my students: do not fall below the standard set by your predecessors,” he said.

He concluded by calling on the new Oti Regional executives to combine competence, unity, effective organisation and decisive leadership to rebuild the NPP and position it for victory in future elections.