The former Member of Parliament for Berekum in the Brong Ahafo Region, and aspiring General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Captain (Rtd) Kwame Nkrabea Effah Dartey has stated that Ghanaians are crying for NPP to come to power in 2012 to save them from the ruling government’s mismanagement of the economy.

“As I speak to you now, Ghanaians are hungry for the return of the NPP into power in 2012 to salvage them from the economic crunch that has been created by the President Mills led NDC government.

A number of people I have spoken to have expressed their readiness to return the NPP into power. It is up to us as a party to re-strategise our campaign programmes and communications and put in place strong leadership to capture political power in 2012”.

Captain (Rtd) Kwame Nkrabeah Effah Dartey made the comments when toured some constituencies in the Central Region to announce his intention to contest the General Secretary position of the New Patriotic Party scheduled for early February, 2010.

He received a rousing welcome as he addressed constituency executives in Agona East Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Gomoa West, Assin North, and Efutu last Sunday.

He therefore called on the delegates to the national delegates’ conference to ensure that they vote for competence and level-minded people who can boldly lead the NPP into power in 2012. “Time has changed and we must change with time. The NPP must change with time. We must change the way we were doing our things yesterday, because we cannot do those things today.”

According to the former MP, the NPP lost the 2008 general elections because of two reasons. He mentioned neglect of footsoldiers adding that for the 8 years that the party was in power, it failed to take proper care of its footsoldiers.

“Because of this, about 300,000 NPP supporters and sympathizers refused to cast their votes because they were highly disappointed at the way and manner the party treated them. The party needs new leadership to steer the affairs of the party to enable it secure the 23,000 votes difference it lost to the NDC in the 2008 elections. Another reason was that, the party did not place mature and vigilant people at its polling agents and as a result so many things went against the NPP.”

The retired military officer assured the delegates that if given the nod, he will ensure that the party trains its polling agents well enough to be extra vigilant at their various polling stations. Nkrabea Effah Dartey said, “I will ensure unity and discipline to sustain the party for the next 50 years. If given the nod, I will make sure that there is operational efficiency in all the constituencies and will equip all party officers to operate efficiently with funds provided for them.

Effa Dartey would not accept any form of indiscipline or factionalism in the NPP if given the nod to become the General Secretary. Above all, I will organise NPP membership roll to identify real members of the party.” He expressed the hope that the delegates would give him the nod to become the General Secretary of the NPP to propel the party into victory 2012.

The Gomoa West constituency chairman, Mr Joe Donkor appealed to all those seeking the highest offices of the NPP to carry out their campaigns in a very peaceful manner so as to sustain peace, unity and stability in the party.