AGAINST UNGUARDED STATEMENTS ; INSTEAD MAKE THEIR AMBITIONS KNOWN TO THE DELEGATES

In attempt to succeed the sitting president , His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor as his term of governance expires in 7th December , 2008 both activists of the ruling New Patriotic party (NPP) and opposition National Democratic Congress are joining forces to make a significant impact in the 2008 presidential and parliamentary polls.

With the NDC having elected their presidential candidate in the person of Prof. John Evans Atts Mills, the pressure is now on NPP to follow that shining example. In order not to loose the seat to the NDC, key figures in NPP have started marketing themselves ahead of the party’s delegate congress in December this year, which would be the appropriate platform for the party’s presidential candidate to be known.

Following the competitive nature of the delegate congress, some of the aspirants have adopted unpleasant way of campaigning, there by attacking the integrity of other candidates. This has therefore attracted the attention of the concerned personalities in the party and see it a dangerous seed that should not be allowed to germinate at all. However it should be fought against before it gets out of hand completely.

On 30th April, 2007 during a familiarization tour at Atirensu and Aworowa, all in the Techiman municipality of Brong Ahafo region, the minister of ports harbours and railways, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi who had already filed his nomination to contest the parliamentary seat in Techiman north constituency in the next general elections, cautioned all the presidential aspirants determine to take part in the party’s delegates congress to desist from using inflammatory language.

The sector minister who visited the two areas to introduce himself officially to the polling station agents and also to make clear his intension to the electorates reiterated that such unpardonable character always help the opposition NDC to sharpen her propaganda tool , there by using those verbal attacks as their campaign messages. He rather advised the presidential aspirants to make their vision known to the delegates who have the license to exercise their franchise on the voting day and through that they will be compelled to separate the wheat from the chaff.

The minister pointed out that looking at the good track record of NPP and among few political parties in Africa that truly belief in internal democracy, internal wrangling should not be given room to operate. On the 2008 parliamentary election, the Prof. who suffered a surprise defeat during the last elections urged the electorate to vote wisely this time round. He explained to the executive members in the two towns that he still has all the needed qualities to contest the seat for NPP come 2008, adding that all the grounds work have been done to wrestle it democratically with any NDC candidate.

He observed that one major problem that caused the party’s down fall was complacency on the part of the executive members and advised the foot soldiers against that, advocating for intensive campaign ahead of the 2008 general elections. The minister noted that even though the forth coming general elections will be very tough , he is still the best choice for NPP in Techiman north constituency and entreated the polling station agents to vote massively for him during the party’s primaries which is some few days away from now.

He pledged his preparedness to support the foot soldiers with the requisite mobile forces in order to make the proposed dream a reality.

Amidst standing ovation from the people, the former NPP chairman for Techiman north constituency, Nana Dwomor who led the delegation to the two towns said without unity among the executive members, the party’s dream to unseat the NDC MP for the area will surely be a mirage, adding that stability within is the right key for victory. The former party chairman suggested for new campaign strategy.