Why Jake is my NPP Chairman- Part I.

Jacob Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey commonly called Jake Obetsebi Lamptey

Once again, the need has arisen for the NPP to choose a new crop of National Executive to steer the affairs of this great party by the end of the year. The kind of leaders we choose for our party, will be a reflection of our sense of of judgment on how we want the party to perform in the 2012 election..

The competition over the National Chairmanship position will be challenging

but I believe it would not be too big a challenge to NPP Kingmakers because the party is full of discerning and well informed people who will rightly determine how the party should chart its course by electing the right leaders. Our vision as members of a NPP remains and together, we can work to achieve our ultimate goals to uplift the party's image. We must strive to restore the hope and confidence of Ghanaians.

The NPP need to turn a new page, adapt to a new paradigm shift and embrace a new brand of leadership.The party needs a disciplined, dynamic and a visionary chairman whose love for the party is without question. A new chairman with a strong commitment to organization and party-building skills is needed.

Leadership is about people. It is about how to lead people to achieve the desired outcomes for a course . According to the Book of Proverbs, the qualities of good leadership are hard work, good listening skills, wise planning and common sense, ability to stand adversity and pressure and openness to new ideas.

The NPP need someone who has these character traits to be able exhibit good leadership qualities. The grass root supporters and other admirers of the party are currently disillusioned due to some avoidable and elementary mistakes as well as self-inflicted wounds the Party suffered, especially before the last elections. The once popular party that the nation embraced is now a pale shadow of it s former glory. In view of this there is a general impression that the entire National Executive should exit for their failure to lead the party to a third term victory especially when it appeared their pedigrees assured victory.

I have a strong conviction that Jacob Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey commonly called Jake Obetsebi Lamptey has what it takes to be an efficient, effective and a progressive chairman to take over from Mac Manu. As a credible newspaper recently put it: "Jake enjoys considerable grassroots support and several of the people in the party leadership are comfortable with him. He is considered as 'conveniently and positively predictable' as a strategist and grafter because of his vast experience in party management and campaign organisation since 1979". Quality leadership is a potent mix of good character and strategy and I strongly believe Jake is the mix. He is a strategist, a pragmatic situation analyst and a good lobbyist. Jake has the character, leadership skills and experience to become chairman of NPP.

Jake has served the NPP for long and is one of the few who sacrificed their

time, resources and spirit to consolidate, advance and improved on the

fortunes of the Danquah-Busia political tradition and the NPP over the

years. As A three times Greater Accra Regional chairman and two times winning winning campaign Manager he is well baked to take up the chairmanship position.

He is a team player and therefore creates opportunities for people

working under him to learn and grow. He is the only Minister under

ex-President Kufour's government who's four deputies were promoted to

full Ministers. He is, down-to-earth and politically astute enough to connect with the average folks.

He is someone who is able to mix well and relate maximally with different shades of people- the youth, women and other vulnerable groups. He has a passion for the promotion of the well fare of the youth and is down to earth. He is accommodating and listens carefully to people even under pressure.

There is a feeling among the younger generation of NPP that, the party needs to change itself with regards to the way it deals with its youth before it begins thinking about retaking power. The youth are craving new ideas and leadership action and I have the conviction it is Jake who would be able to meet their aspirations.

"Insha'Allah" ( If it is Gods Will), an Arabic term evoked by Muslims to indicate hope for an aforementioned event to occur in the future is often used by Jake and so Muslims loves him although he is not one of them. In fact they feel so comfortable with him. His style of mostly dressing like a Northerner is admired and appreciated by people from the three Northern Regions and I hear he loves eating Ewe food.

Jake is a Unifier and would not drag the party to wallow in the bitterness of divisions and factionalism. If the roots of disunity getting firm in the NPP are not immediately addressed, the party could be heading for serious problems in the 2012 elections. In fact, it could lead to the break-up of the party. To have any chance of winning we must unite our party to hold our own and the best person to do that is Jake. Having served as Campaign chairman fo both Kufour and Akufo-Addo as well as most of the prominent people in NPP with greater co-operation and understanding, I believe he will be in the best position to unite the party.

Under a Jake chairmanship, I believe NPP foot soldiers, activists and all relevant stakeholders will be duly recognised and if possible rewarded for their good work. As Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, he created a "Party Liaison Office" to deal with concerns of party members across the country, a situation that made party activists happy.

Jake's ethnic background will be an advantage to the NPP. I am not suggesting he should be made chairman simply because he is a Ga. But whether we like it not or yes, ethnicity has become an integral part of politicking in Ghana. During the last election , ethnicity featured prominently in the campaign of NDC. They exploited and and fanned ethnic differences to win votes. The NPP need to do a lot of strategic planning in terms of ethnic permutations for top positions in the party to prevent the situation in which NDC will continue to brand it pro-Akan. All things being equal the flag bearer position will remain with the Akans. The Gas, an important ethnic group in the politics of this country should be given the Chairmanship with Voltarians and Northerners taking other National executive positions to balance the situation.

When Jake was the Greater Accra Chairman of NPP, the party increased its seats from 9 to 16. No party has ever won an election in Ghana without winning the Greater Accra region and that is the more reason why Jake should be the Chairman because Greater Accra, a region the NPP need to win the next election will feel comfortable with him. He is a workaholic and in fact one who once effectively combined Cabinet responsibilities with the position of Greater Accra regional Chairman.

Jake has charisma and this is essential to motivate and inspire our party foot soldiers most of whom are presently apathetic to the course of the party. His natural appeal to floating voters and non NPP voters could do the trick.

The above reasons are very essential attributes of a prospective National

Chairman. Some of the issues raised seem trivial but believe me they are what Ghanaians look out for in voting.

The debate as to who is the right person to become NPP chairman will continue. I reason in line with the opinion that, even though our party has always welcomed competition for office as a bedrock principle, well-meaning Ghanaians and the overwhelming majority of our rank and file hope that this time around the competition will be conducted in a way that will facilitate reconciliation among competitors and their supporters, thereby reinforcing the unity of our party. Ghanaians want to see a strong united front amongst us so that we can offer them the vibrant, energetic and visionary leadership they are yearning for returning our party to government in 2012.

I will stick my neck out for Jake. I also implore NPP members to let our arguments be cogent and not destructive. I urge the NPP's Council of Elders, the National Executive Committee , Regional and Constituency Branches, the Party's Parliamentary group and all the caucuses as well as Party faithfuls whose duty is to protect, nurture and defend the beliefs, ideology and visions of the great founding fathers of the party to as a matter of great concern support my idea of making Jake our Chairman to enhance NPP'S chance in 2012.

By Mahama Haruna.
[email protected]
0243-313-113.
The writer holds a B. A. Degree in Communication Studies (with Specialisation in Journalism) from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ). He was a former Secretary of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS). He was also a former NPP Secretary for Bole-Bamboi Constituency.