Asantehene emphasises intra-party democracy

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has emphasised the importance of intra-party democracy, saying that, the peaceful manner in which the NPP conducted its recent Congress must be commended.

He has also called on the leadership of political parties to be committed to addressing the needs of the society to help improve living standards.

He stated this when former President John Agyekum Kufour led the National Executive of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to pay a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Wednesday.

The occasion was to formally introduce Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the Asantehene as the party's flagbearer for the 2012 elections.

The visit was also intended for the leadership of the NPP to express their profound appreciation to delegates from the Ashanti region who voted overwhelmingly for Nana Akufo Addo as the party's flagbearer.

Former and present Members of Parliament, as well as national and regional party executives and a cross section of party faithful thronged the Manhyia palace to throw their weight behind Nana Akufo Addo.

It was all joy as the party faithful, clad in the red, blue and white of the NPP, besieged the Palace, amidst brass band music, to show solidarity to the elected flag bearer.

The Asantehene called for unity among the rank and file of the party to ensure its progress.

Nana Akufo-Addo garnered 78.8 per cent of the total ballots cast in the Congress, which saw over 100,000 delegates voting to be elected as the flag bearer.

Nana Akufo-Addo called for calm among supporters of the party, explaining that they all had the same thing in common, of advancing the cause of the Dankwa-Busia tradition, for the benefit of the nation.

He said the NPP was working assiduously at all levels to enable it to achieve its objective in the 2012 General Elections, explaining that, he had brought all losing candidates on board for the progress of the party.

The elected flag bearer said the fact that he won 38 out of the 39 constituencies in the Ashanti Region spoke well of the massive support he enjoyed in the region and promised to be committed to duty, to justify the confidence reposed in him.

The Bechemhene, Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, on behalf of the Asantehene, welcomed the former President and the NPP entourage to the palace.

He explained that the Nana Addo's victory in almost all the constituencies was an indication of the confidence the party members had in him.

He, therefore, encouraged him to be a humble servant "who would serve and treat the people with respect so that they would in turn vote for him during the general elections".

Later, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia Constituency, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, on behalf of the flagbearer and the party, presented a carton of Schnapps and an undisclosed amount of money in line with traditions to the Asantehene.