The Toil Of The NPP Footsoldiers

"The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops" - 2nd Timothy 2:15

One thing I have come to realize in politics is that when power comes into your grips, your enemies and saboteurs become your loyalists.

Not long ago, the New Patriotic Party was crawling like a six month old child. Many of the party bigwigs and functionalists never had hope of winning the 2016 election. Many were unconcerned because they have their private businesses so whether the party wins or loses, they will still make a comfortable living. For this reason, they preferred investing their resources into their private businesses rather than the party.

It took the lives of some few party functionalists and the teaming grassroots particularly the youth, to toil the length and breath of the nation to secure victory for the party. This is the reason why my ink will continue to praise Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, Sir John, Peter Mac Manu, Chairman Wontumi, Chairman Bugri Naabu, David Asante of Let My Vote Count, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko and other few who had absolute confidence in the party and Nana Akufo-Addo hence they sacrificed their time, energy, resources as well as their integrity to secure victory for the party.

I am therefore not surprised that, people keep asking about why David and Gabby have not been given appointment.

The increasing pressure from the grassroots particularly the youth, is being termed by those who didn't suffer at the grassroot level as awkward attitude. But those who toiled with them, those who moved from their comfort zones to the most discomfort areas, they are those who understand the grassroots pleas.

Those who know the stress people faced while campaigning for the party, the kind of treatment ushered on some of the grassroots campaigners, they are those who understand the pressure from the grassroots.

At least, we must not forget that Justice Adzakumah lost his eyes, Chairman Adams lost his live, a patriot called IGP of Akropong was shot, Gabby was lashed by the police, Anita Disuoso drove on Atiwa youth, some received slaps, some lost their jobs, some lost their families to death or divorce etc.

If you toil for the Almighty God using the Holy Scripture (Bible, Qur'an, etc) as the campaign too, definitely you have to expect your reward from the Heaven but if you toil for a political party, using the party's manifesto as your campaign too, explaining the message in the manifesto to the people, then, your reward must come from the party when power comes into the grips of the party.

The reward here is jobs. Many of the party youth have remained unemployed for many years under the watch of NDC. Many lost their jobs through political harassment or the economic mismanagement of the past NDC government. They had confidence in the NPP hence they sacrificed their all to see the victory of the party.

The various youth groups toiled and protected the ballots of Ghanaians hence seeing to it that what happened in 2012, doesn't repeat itself in 2016.

For instance, youth groups such as NPP Boardroom moved from one region to another, constituency to constituency, village to village, house to house selling Nana Akufo-Addo and his campaign messages. Other groups such as Young Elephants, Loyal Ladies, Loyal Men, V16, Klub 200, PYFC, PYA, etc did same. Eastern Patriots were on the move in Eastern region making sure the NDC "agenda 50:50" becomes nothing but a shame, the various youth groups at the constituency and community level did their best for the party.

Social media communicators used their own data bundles, writers bought their books and pens to write to expose the NDC. Those who used information centers paid from their own pockets etc.

It must be noted that most of these youth groups contributed money and other resources from their own pockets to support their outreach.

Social media communicators used their own data bundles, writers bought their books and pens to write to expose the NDC. Those who used information centers paid from their own pockets etc.

We have power now, and the power we have was won at the grassroots. "Elections are won at the polling stations" - Asiedu Nketia.

If we manage the grassroots well, we will enjoy the power we have for a longer period. If you are a Member of Parliament, remember that some people helped you to win the seat. If you are a minister, know that there are some people out there who can do it well and even better than you. If you are a CEO, know that, you wouldn't have become the CEO if the party had failed to win the 2016 election. If you are a party executive, know that you didn't campaign alone, you had a chunk of party faithfuls who followed you to the campaign grounds. If you are a contractor, know that you couldn't have secured that big contract if NPP had failed to win the 2016 election. If you are a grassroots staunch supporter, know that Rome wasn't built overnight - we cannot benefit at the same time.

If you are a party bigwig, know that the foundation of Rome was dug in a day.

Let's all play our roles having in mind that we have another election to win. Let's think about each other. Let's think about Ghana too.

Above all, let's protect and satisfy those who secured us victory. If a child eases on the lap of his parent, the parent doesn't cut off the leg, rather, he cleanse it.

1st Timothy 5:8 says - for everyone who does not provide for their relatives and especially for their own households, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

We were one family when we needed power. Let's see ourselves as one family so we protect the power.

Long live NPP
God bless our homeland Ghana.
By: Boamah Frimpong Kingsley
Asante Akim North