The New Patriotic Party’s The Hague chapter in The Netherlands, has held its first Family Kitchen Meeting in the Dutch administrative capital of The Hague. The meeting which was attended by a large number of Ghanaians was aimed at addressing major past and current issues within the party and introduce the NPP-Holland network scheme to raise funds to support the party’s 2012 electoral campaign in Ghana, and also embark on its membership drive in The Hague province.
In his welcome address, Mr. Kwabena Opoku Agyemang, the interim chairman of NPP The Hague chapter, expressed his gratitude and delight at the great number of participants, considering that the party is now in opposition. He called for a drive to form a strong NPP Holland, geared at working cohesively with sister branches in Europe to propel the NPP to recapture power in 2012. Mr. Opoku Agyemang, in his “ENKO YIE” message, indicated that series of such NPP Family Kitchen meetings will be held frequently in the Netherlands as well as across Europe, to deliberate on matters concerning both Ghana and the party. He said, such meetings will keep the party branches active and abreast with national issues as well as plan strategies in advancement of the party.
Mr. Kobby Annan, chairman of the NPP-Holland, through his presentation, reflected on the Party’s past activities and approach towards the electorate, especially lessons learnt from the Public Relation Machinery of the NPP and the way forward. He introduced the NPP-Holland Network fundraising scheme aimed at raising funds among members and the public towards the 2012 electoral campaign. The Scheme which has gaining massive support among Ghanaians in Holland now has 300 contributors since its first introduction in Amsterdam, two months ago, is expected to be officially launched in May 2010 at the Tulip Inn Riverside in Amsterdam.
Mr. Kobby Annan, in reacting to questions regarding the extent to which negative media reports about factions and divisions characterise the party and the flagbearer race, emphasised that, there is no animosity between either previous contestants or current aspiring candidates. “There is no animosity between Nana Addo and Allan Kyeremanteng or any other previous or current potential aspirants.” He said whenever there are contestants there are certainly followers and core supporters of those contestants, but this does not make them enemies at each others throat. Mr. Annan stated that the NPP is only separated between those who advocates to endorse Nana Akufo Addo, the 2008 presidential candidate, as un-opposed candidate for 2012, considering the 2008 votes margin, and others who are of the view that, an endorsement of such nature has the potential to set a bad precedence for the party’s future and therefore call for an open competition or race for the flag bearership. This he said is natural. All supporters and followers of every family member of this great party have the democratic right to campaign meticulously for their favourites. When a candidate is chosen, I assure you that we will all settle to become one united elephant family,” Mr. Annan emphasised.
Dr. Kwasi Boahene admonished members to be more proactive in their encounter with party functionaries. He used the biblical quote from Matt: 7:7 to advise them not to be tight-lipped, but ask party functionaries appropriate questions with perseverance and vigour till they get results. He also encouraged the audience to sign on to the scheme to support the NPP.
In his delivery Mr. Matthew Kyeremeh, secretary for the NPP UK & Ireland branch, who led a two member delegation to the event, stressed on the importance of Ghanaians in the Diaspora being actively involved in both Ghana’s and local politics. He said the western style democracy and policy implementation skills are worth emulating for the benefit of those aspiring managerial and political positions in Ghana. He asked members to be wary of the negative media reports on the internet about the party. Mr. Matthew Kyeremeh also reminded members of the revised NPP constitution particularly, the increase in Diaspora delegate’s representation from one to twelve delegates. In an inspirational message, Ms. Veronica Heming, women organiser of the NPP UK & Ireland branch, called on the women to actively involve themselves in politics and advocated for an NPP-Women Europe wing. She encouraged the women to disregard the notion of politics being the job for men, by referring to some encouraging trends in women’s participation at the highest level of national politics. Ms. Heming pointed out that sub-Saharan Africa has its first woman president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, an indication that Women in politics are making a difference in at least three important arenas: national legislatures, local government and post-conflict reconstruction. Her call was greeted with loud applause from the women. Nana Kwaku Dua, former Chairman of The Hague Chapter and Nana Yeboah Dabanka, life-Patron, both took turns to give a brief history of the formation the Party branch in Holland and advised members to remain united. The meeting which had occasional interludes with NPP jingles was climaxed with a dance party and merry making.