COME BACK •NPP Reaches Out

THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) has extended an olive branch to all aggrieved party members who have been straddling on the fence, to return to the party for a resounding victory in the December polls.

The party, which had commenced setting up regional campaign teams, stated that nothing would stop it from retaining power, urging members not to stand aloof.

Charity, the party said, begins at home, noting that it was only proper for it to put its house in order before calling on others on the other side of the political divide to join the winning team.

The Director of the Akufo-Addo Campaign Team, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku made the call when he inaugurated a 15-member Brong Ahafo (B/A) campaign monitoring team at Sunyani on Sunday.

Prior to the inauguration, the party had held a fundraising dinner dance at the regional capital to raise money for its war chest.

The team included the Regional Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah as chairman; Kwasi Adu Gyan, Regional chairman; Felicia Adoma, Women's Organiser; J.H. Mensah, MP for Sunyani East; Kwadwo Adjei Darko, MP for Sunyani West; Kofi Darko, Regional Organiser; Mensah Bonsu; Yaw Addae Owusu; and Mrs. Dorothy Ama Amponsah.

The rest were Asomah Cheremeh, a legal practitioner; Yaw Boahen; Alfred Annye, Regional Youth Organiser; John Nketia; Frimpong Anang and Nicholas Asamoah.

Dr Apraku noted that a comeback was necessary to consolidate the party's gains and make it combat-ready for the impending general elections.

He said there were several individuals who might be considering quitting politics because of apathy or the thought that their tenure of office had come to an end with the exit of the Kufuor Administration; but observed that rather, their efforts and rich experiences were needed to effectively campaign for the party to retain power.

The B/A Campaign Monitoring Team, according to Dr. Apraku, had the oversight responsibility to supervise, plan and advise other campaign coordinators at the grassroots, (zonal level) and added that the ceremony, which was the first of its kind, was strategic to the party.

He said statistics had proven that every political party that ever won elections in Ghana had to win in the Brong-Ahafo to emerge victorious, stressing that the region was therefore very dear to the NPP.

Dr. Apraku said his party wants to consolidate its 14 seats in the region and also ensure that the party wins six of the seats in the 10 orphaned constituencies.

He urged members to liaise with the national campaign team to strategize and plan ahead of the polls.

He disclosed that the appointment of members was assigned to the national office of the party so as to avoid any fracas among the local executives.

He however admitted that the regional office was allowed to recruit new members in consultation with the national office.

Dr Apraku explained to the gathering that all regional secretaries were excluded from the team because there was the need for them to stay behind and man the office whilst their colleagues go to the field to monitor events.

The Regional Minister, Baffour Awuah was grateful to the national campaign directorate for the confidence reposed in him and his members.

He was hopeful that together they would work assiduously to justify their appointments.

He told the team members that the time of accountability was barely six months away and therefore called on them to rise up to the challenge in order to achieve the desired results.

The team chairman assured the National Campaign Director that NPP would win not only six of the seats in the orphaned constituencies but eight.

“He (referring to Dr. Apraku) said six, but we are here and I want to say that we will be able to win eight of the seats,” he said assuredly.

A member of the team, Kwasi Adu Gyan, who is also the regional chairman of the party, observed that NPP could do better if all hands were on deck.

By Rocklyn Antonio & Simmons Yussif Kewura