The NPP's channel: Ten simple ways to retaking Power

A personal assessment of the New Patriotic Party revealed that the largest opposition party in Ghana has lost its ideologies and policies which caused their defeat. After a series of losses in both the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2008, I have heard various political analysts explaining why the party lost the presidential and their majority seats in parliament, and even former key members within the party citing reasons and drawing a road map to find a path back to victory. But I am proposing the following guidance which would make victory road map an achievable mission back to the CASTLE OR JUBILEE HOUSE in 2012.

10) Relax and take a break:
The party should not commerce attacking the newly elected President and his team “B” right away. Let his popularity fade away into the bush. With the kind of electoral expectations as high as they are, there is a good chance His Excellency will fail the good people of Ghana by his own actions. In his first year...Mills is struggling to fulfill his election promises, rise in toll taxes, ineffective health insurance scheme, and corruption. He was elected to be a savior by reducing high cost of living standards, but he is failing since he is not the Alpha and Omega

9) Gradual Process:
The Castle or Jubilee House cannot be retaken until 2012. But there are local and constituents elections within the party you need to concentrate...News coming from Obuasi and Ashanti region are not good signs...Make sure you elect effective members in all the regions to strengthen your local base across the country. Set your sights on key local elections within the party before thinking about 2012.

8) Stop Making the Headlines:
True or not, the public sees the New Patriotic Party as the more corrupt and scandal prone party (Richard Anane, Asamoah Boateng, Ras Boateng and many other sagas.). Only time can fix this problem, and there's no better time to start than now.

7) Let younger People In:
Spread the word: The New Patriotic Party supports limited government. All those who agree with this principle are welcome. There are plenty of young people out there who share the desire to live free from an overreaching government. You must find them. It seems the older generations are still in the helm of affairs, but how about allowing the young folks into the managerial positions of the party...so that the party would be an attraction for the younger generation...and stop this Akuffo-Addo (older generation) vs. Allan Kyeremanteng (younger generation)...IT HIGH TIME YOU HYBRID THEM FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE PARTY!

5) Develop Positive Policies:
The NPP HAS TO STICK TO POSITIVE ISSUES. Do it to lessen corruption; do it to achieve energy independence; do it to create high paying jobs; do it so you can tell outsiders to take their policies, influences and shove it somewhere. But you better do it and do it soon. The country needs positive policies, the voters want result, and you don't want to be on the wrong side of this one.

4) Focus on “Floating” voters:
Akuffo Addo put up a decent fight, despite being outplayed by an opponent well known as “PEACEFUL MAN”. Pre-election polls showed that voters viewed Allan Kyeremanteng much more favorably than Akuffo-Addo; simply because of the “floaters”. So please don't let that independent minded, maverick image be completely lost. Independent voters like a maverick; they also decide elections.

3) Pick a Fight:
There are several issues that the government of the day really has to address: taxes, single spine salary, Health care and social security reform come to mind. The National Democratic Congress won't touch them while they have the advantage, so the issues are there for the taking. Point out the elephants in the room, and then go make your case to voters in a moderate way that appeals to more than just the party's base.

2) Change the Tone:
Elections always turn negative. The trick is to be negative without voters realizing it. Mills did this perfectly in 2008 by balancing attacks on Former President Kuffour and Akuffo-Addo with positive messages of hope and reform. It's time for NPP to start defining those positive messages now. They take longer to define than the negative ones.

1) Leave the Past Behind:
And I'm not only talking about Akuffo Addo/ Kyeremanteng. The party must aspire to more than simply a return to the Former President Kuffour glory days. There is a place for Kuffour today. But that place is alongside J.B Danquah and K.A. Busia as one of the great New Patriotic Party leaders in our history. You can quote them from time to time, but let history remain history. The Castle or Jubilee House won't be won in 2012 by looking back to better day's years ago. It will be won by looking forward to the next quarter century and a better future.

N.B: It must be noted that I am not a card bearing member of the New Patriotic Party, but only expressed my views as an independent political analyst who wants the best for the Black Star of Africa irrespective of the party in power or the party under critique.

Paul Rex Danquah
East London