… Leaders ignored advice and followed their own agenda
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Ohene Ntow, has told The Chronicle that if the leadership of the party had listened to his advice, the party would not have lost the 2008 elections.

According to him, his views with regard to the selection of parliamentary candidates of the party in some selected constituencies were ignored, a decision, he noted, which contributed largely to the defeat of the party at the polls.

Nana Ohene-Ntow mentioned for instance, that at Offinso South, Cape Coast, Nkawkaw and others areas, he strongly advocated that the convention should be ignored to give way to primaries.

“At Offinso South for instance, I had done my own independent investigations, and my investigations were similar to that of the research committee of the party, which suggested that the sitting MP, who emerged as a result of by-election, was not popular on the ground.

I advocated passionately that we should break the convention, which indicated that any member, who became MP through a by-election, should not be contested at the primaries.

In that constituency, it was clear that the man was not popular, and we went ahead with the convention and lost.”

Speaking in an interview with this reporter, the soft-spoken General Secretary, noted: “At Nkawkaw, we realised that if we disqualify Seth Adjei Baah and he goes independent, he would win, and it happened, just as what happened in Cape Coast and other areas.

We stuck to the party’s convention too much, and lost,” stressing: “Team work was a bit lacking, and in essence, it cost us.”

He argued that the loss had vindicated the position he was espousing, saying, “ If I am part of the next executives, I will put my handsome experience on deck, and I will be more forceful, because I was there, and know much.

I strongly believe the party would immensely benefit from my experience.

It is very important that I remain in the team and contribute my valuable experience to the development of the party.”

He continued that apart from his valuable experience, he would improve upon the strategic management and communication outfit of the party.

Advocating further for a strong party, rather than a strong candidate, he said the NPP would benefit tremendously, if structures are well put in place.

“It is on this note that I am urging the delegates to vote for me as one who has a handsome experience to work with the team. I have huge institutional memory, and if we have team work, we shall by no means win the 2012 general elections.” v On perceived factions within the party, Ohene-Ntow slammed people who were preaching of camps within the party.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand. Anybody who preaches camps and groups is not working towards the larger interest of the party, but rather working to weaken the party.”

To him, one of the cardinal points, he believes, is, no party, no government, saying, “if you don’t have a strong party, there is no way you can win power.”

Responding to assertions that the current incumbent executives should give way to new ones, he disagreed with the sentiment.

The NPP Chief Scribe noted that in as a much as some party members were calling for heads, others are stating emphatically that it would be suicidal to lose all the top executives.

“I believe the fortunes of the party would change. I have been there, and I know that when I am retained, I will improve upon my strategic proposals and plans. In my individual capacity, I believe that I still have something good to offer.”

On his weak point, Nana Ohene-Ntow, said it was his inability to function outside the team, saying, “I believe that given the opportunity again with team work, I will help restructure the party, get an extension of internal policies, increase the communication outfit of the party, which has been my core aim when I assumed this position,” he said.