General News of Saturday, 5 July 2014

Source: The Finder

I am shocked by NPP’s electoral defeats - Alan

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen says he still remains in shock over their two electoral defeats to the governing National Democratic Party (NDC).

According to him, little did he anticipate that the NPP would lose both the 2008 and 2012 general elections.

According to Alan, former President J.A. Kufuor had paved the way for victory in the 2008 election with his two-term achievements in power, and wondered why they lost.

These revelations were made at a meeting with delegates from the Ahafo-Ano South East Constituency in the Ashanti Region.

Mr. Kyerematen hinted that, as at now, the NPP can only claim ownership of the Ashanti Region as its stronghold, unlike when John Agyekum Kufuor was flagbearer.

He said the major challenge facing the party has to do with party organization, which he said has been overlooked in recent time.

He mentioned lack of proper grassroots organisation and co-ordination, internal wrangling and the neglect of polling station executives as some of the challenges.

This time round, he said, "voters are concerned much about the attributes of a candidate, his abilities and capabilities, these mostly and currently influence which party a voter goes for."

Mr. Kyerematen explained that he has plans of concentrating on strengthening the party from the grassroots levels to ginger positive response.

He hoped to employ all regional and constituency executives on a full-time basis to foster unrelenting commitment for party duties and do same for polling station executives and election coordinators.

He told delegates that he initiated the Constituency Business Ventures while not a flagbearer to generate income for the running of the party at the constituency level and distributed motorcycles and bicycles to them.

Mr Kyerematen hinted that he intends to build permanent party offices at all constituencies if given the nod.