Reformed Patriotic Party in the offing
…As Ashanti youth sets agenda for party

THE FATE of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) losing 15 parliamentary seats to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2000, following the emergence of Goosie Tanoh’s National Reform Party (NRP) is likely to befall the ruling NPP.

The youth of the party are contemplating forming a new political party for being marginalized.

They are considering Reformed Patriotic Party (RPP) for which regional and constituency co-ordinators are standing by for the take off.

Foot soldiers of the group are reportedly putting their acts together to secure an electoral certificate by June this year.

The Chronicle has gathered that the RPP’s take-off depends on the outcome of the party’s impending national delegates Congress to choose a flagbearer.

The only condition to stop the RPP from coming into being is for the NPP to choose a young and energetic person as the flagbearer.

Mr. Kwabena Agyei alias Bambata, an NPP activist told The Chronicle in confirmation of rumours doing the rounds about the proposed RPP. He said 75% of the youth who have sacrificed to sustain the party have been sidelined, while the elderly enjoy the fruits of their labour.

The youth are peeved and are calling for changes in leadership of the party’s structures at all levels. “The youth have sacrificed enough for the old faces to enjoy” he said and stated: “the trend must change”.

They claim they have not gained by way of ministerial positions, neither have they been resourced to finance party activities or settled under any housing scheme as a result of which they want to be empowered this time round to handle the affairs of the party.

They complained that the Procurement Act had come to empower sympathizers of the NDC, giving them an edge over the NPP because any procurement over ¢50 million cannot be afforded by the NPP members.

Bambata said the position of the youth is to avoid a fate similar to what befell the CPP, where only the elderly formed the core of membership. In this case “it will be the same people, same music, like the CPP”.

Another condition set by the youth is that all NPP Members of Parliament who have served three terms would also have to forget about any intentions to run for the fourth time.

Those who readily come to mind are Mr. S. K. Boafo, Subin MP and Minister for Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, Defence Minister and Manhyia MP; Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Offinso North MP and Kwame Balado Manu, Ahafo Ano South MP.

Others are Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyemang, New Juaben MP and Minister for Works and Housing and Water Resources; Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo, Akim Oda and former Finance Minister and Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo, Akim Abuakwa MP and Foreign Affairs and NEPAD Minister, among others.

According to Bambata, the youth have vowed to resist the imposition of “old faces” on the party at the various levels.

He said that there are those who have served three terms (12 years) as MPs and at the same time served eight years out of the 12 years as Ministers.

The Youth, according to Bambata, are angered the more for the fact that some of these “old faces” in spite of the gains so far, still want to aspire to be the flagbearer of the party and assume the presidency.

Bambata said the youth are opposed to any of the “old faces” clinging to power at the expense of the youth, who should be given the chance to build upon their experiences, saying “leadership of the party is not a dynasty.”

“If the same people continue in office, how can the youth build upon their experience,” he questioned.

He said in the next NPP government, old ministers would have to give way to the youth, adding, “We will not give anybody of 65 and above the chance to lead the party.”

According to him the NPP was formed while in opposition and therefore no particular individual can claim it as a bonafide property.

On the other hand the youth would have no problem if Congress chooses the right person. Anything short of this condition would make the breakaway of the youth to form the Reformed Patriotic Party a matter of course.

The Chronicle gathered from some members of the youth group that they would not settle for a candidate outside of the youthful aspirants, specifically, Paapa Owusu Ankomah, Allan Kyeremanteng, Kwabena Agyepong and Dan Botwe, who they identify with.

According to the proponents, the RPP is the only way to lay a firm foundation and give the assurance to the teeming followers of the NPP that the party could be in power for the next 20 years and more.

Bambata assured that should there be a round off at the 2008 elections the RPP would conditionally enter into an electoral alliance.