NPP and the Forthcoming Delegates Congress

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Paul Afoko, NPP Chairman
Paul Afoko, NPP Chairman

It is more or less a universally accepted convention that any grouping that operates with the tenets of democracy should choose its leaders through ballot. This is absolutely what the New Patriotic Party seeks to do on the October 18, 2014. Though as the pace-setter in this trade, the campaigning ahead of this very important democratic exercise has not been so rosy.

Paul Afoko, NPP Chairman
Paul Afoko, NPP Chairman

First of all, the strong opponent of the New Patriotic Party-the National Democratic Congress has in the past few months tried to set the agenda for the NPP. The NDC, particularly its communicators both at the national and in the constituencies attempted with all manner of machinations to infiltrate the rank and file of the NPP with animosity. There was allegation regarding the state of health of Nana Akuffo Addo. The NDC?s apparatchiks flooded the media with the malicious lie that Hon. Nana Akuffo Addo was battling with ailment and had been scheduled for treatment abroad. But before this, the NDC in an earlier attempt to sow the seeds of hatred among NPP supporters claimed that some NPP bigwigs complained of Nana Addo?s age. This negative propagandists move could not fly and was abruptly abandoned.

Then came the usually show of organizational antics among the competing candidates and their sympathizers. Naturally, the possibility of factionalism is very high anytime intellectuals meet. It will be highly disappointing if the NPP decides not to allow for a contest. The NPP as a political party cannot and must not dream of hand-picking a flag bearer. There are men with integrity and intellectual prowess in the NPP and the only way to get the right candidate is to go by what the party?s constitution says. A contest goes with its own challenges including name calling, trading words and sometimes court actions. The NDC again, played a lead role in this. Recently, Ghanaians were greeted with a fictitious audio challenging the capabilities of Nana Addo should he become the president of Ghana. They alleged the voices in that concocted audio were that of some NPP big shots including Nana Ohene Ntow.

What is worth noting at this juncture is for all supporters of the NPP to understand that all cannot agree with one idea at the same time. A competition such as the delegates? congress is not a child?s play, especially since the NPP has expanded the Electoral College. Significantly, the three aspirants are all men with integrity and experiences. They are not opportunists as it is the case in some parties. Already, they have made it in life. My humble appeal then, is for all members of the kukurudo family to stay calm and allow this democratic process to go through. The election on the October 18, 2014 is not only about NPP. It is part of the effort to deepen democracy in Ghana.

At the end of the day only one person out of the three able men shall carry the day. But the winner may not take the party to the Promised Land without the support of the other candidates. Tolerance is the key that the party will need after the delegates congress.

Source:Alex Alasco 0203880632

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