UK NPP express fears over Alan's exit

The United Kingdom branch of the New Patriotic Party has lamented reports that Alan Kyerematen, former Trade and Industry Minister, and one of the high profile presidential aspirants of the ruling NPP party, has resigned from the NPP, describing it as a 'major shock' and warning against a repeat of the 1979 break up of the UP tradition into PFP and UNC.

The NPP UK branch further described the act as "most disappointing, regrettable, and potentially dangerous, not only to the fortunes of our dear party in the forthcoming general elections, but also to the general socio-political stability and development that our country has enjoyed under the N PP government so far."

According to the branch, the last thing any true and committed disciple of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition wants is a repetition of what happened in 1979 "when our party failed to withstand the pressures of internal feud for leadership, and the party was split into two."

They reminded rank and file members that the NPP tradition was born out of the avowed creed of the individual freedom in a liberal democratic state, where there is development of the individual and of society, in a free political atmosphere.

"The duty of all conscientious members of the party is to help establish democracy in a country where free enterprise, fundamental human rights, and a vigorous pursuit of private initiative are cherished."

By the group's estimation, the NPP has demonstrated its capacity and competence to deliver to Ghanaians what the party has always stood for, particularly in the area of socio-economic achievements over the past seven years.

They warned that if the NPP expects to be given a third mandate to govern the country in December 2008, it requires party members to stay united and commitment in their resolve to put the party first in all things.

"The last thing we need is any tendency to break our united front. ... and any such tendency needs to be avoided at all costs".

Another PFP vs. UNC duel within the Danquah-Busia-Dombo family, they stated, has the potential to return the NPP into 'opposition.'

Citing figures, the UK NPP branch recounted that in the June 1979 general elections, the size of the overall national votes for the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition in the first round (47%) were split between PFP (30%) and UNC (17%); with PNP, their main opposition party gaining 35%.

This led to a rerun of the presidential elections. The psychological effect of the results of the first round on the general electorate was such that, during the second round, the PFP, could add only 8% to its share of the votes cast to get 38%, whilst the PNP added a whopping 27% to their votes, to enable them capture 62% of the total votes cast in that election.

"This is the history of 1979 to learn from; and we cannot afford its repetition in 2008, more so when we are the party in government and we have everything including the most enviable track record in good governance and economic management to propel us into a third term in office as the ruling party in government."

The sudden resignation of Mr. Alan Kyerematen, in the opinion of the group, should be tackled and managed as carefully, professionally and promptly by the party as possible. According to them, the situation, if not managed well, has the potential of giving more ammunition to the NPP's political opponents to attack the party.

"We need a united party for the survival of the NPP, for the growth and development of our country, and above all for the freedom and security of all Ghanaians, including our politicians.
Any thing• that has the propensity of giving away power to the NDC, as we did in 1979 for PNP must be avoided."

By their track record, the branch argued, the chances of• the NDC coming to power, under the remote control of Jerry John Rawlings, will take Ghana back to the dark days of the FRC/PNDC regimes where the rule of law and individual freedoms and liberties were thrown out of the window and replaced with Kangaroo courts, tribunals and instant justices (or injustice).

"If that happens, some of us may not even have the opportunity and 'luxury' of going• back into political exile, let alone hope for a return to power in some near future under the same free and democratic environment that we have created for all Ghanaians today."

They hoped that Alan will reconsider his decision in the interest of the party.