“Operation 2016 for Alan Kyeremanten,” a group within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Brong-Ahafo Region has said the party did not need people with academic credentials to hold polling station executive positions.

The group is made up of regional, constituency and polling station executives in Brong-Ahafo rallying for support for Mr Alan Kyeremanten to lead NPP in the 2016 general election.

According to the group, a polling station officer of the party ought to be faithful, hardworking, sacrificial and loyal to the party under all circumstances.

A statement signed by Mr Ebenezer Anane, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinator of the group and made available to the Ghana News Agency, said “one does not need academic certificate to qualify him or her to become a polling station officer”.

It said most of the party’s teeming supporters, especially those at the grassroots, could not read and write and illiteracy should not be a yardstick to disqualify them from holding polling station executive positions.

“Let us encourage and involve all the masses such as the hairdressers, artisans, market women, chop bar operators, fufu pounders, drivers to contest our internal elections; as these categories of people are equally important as those with academic credentials”, the statement said.

The statement appealed to all NPP supporters and party activists at all levels to pick nomination forms and contest to hold executive member positions.

This, it added, would not only strengthen the party’s internal democracy, but also promote a sense of belonging and ownership by all supporters and members of the party.

The statement said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) remained strong and formidable and the NPP needed to ensure that all supporters irrespective of their education, religious and ethnic backgrounds, were brought on board during electioneering campaign to enhance the party’s fortunes in 2016.

It appealed to the party’s hierarchy to work towards the unification of all disgruntled members.