Politics of Thursday, 23 January 2014

Source: Daily Guide

‘NPP must invest more in Volta’

An aspirant for the first vice chairmanship position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Volta Region, Efo Filipo Nyaho-Dati, has called on the party leadership and members to invest more resources and time in the Volta Region if it is serious about winning the 2016 elections.

According to him, while their opponent, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been investing more in their weak regions, thus Eastern and Ashanti, the NPP was still dishing handouts in terms of funds and resources to their strongholds.

He stated that the NPP was making marginal inroads in the Volta Region (NDC’s stronghold) while the NDC was making giant inroads in the Eastern and Ashanti regions (strongholds of the NPP). The trend, he said, must change with immediate effect to prevent another failure in capturing power in the 2016 general elections.

He added that the NPP must keep a close eye on the region and map out programmes and strategies to make the party more attractive and appealing to the Volta Region.

Mr Nyaho-Dati made this known when he spoke to DAILY GUIDE in Ho concerning his desire to be the first vice chairman of the party in the region and help the NPP to win the 2016 elections.

He said he would assist the regional chairman and other executives to develop a blueprint to increase the NPP’s votes in the Volta Region to, at least 20 percent, should he win the slot. He added that he had already designed his blueprint and was looking forward to inputs and improvements from fellow executives when he becomes first vice chairman.

The blueprint which would become a party property would, among other things, ensure that the party gets a permanent regional office in the shortest possible time. This would be followed by permanent offices for all 26 constituencies in the region with the party’s flags hoisted at all times. He said this was attainable considering the fact that during his tenure as the South Dayi Constituency chairman, they acquired a land designated for party office and bought a vehicle.

He added that the party would also go on a visibility campaign to ensure NPP was seen and was accessible in every part of the region. Moreover, there would be an elaborate strategy to build the capacity of party members on governance and democracy and empower them economically through small-scale businesses.

His involvement in leadership would also facilitate unity and improve personal relations with all, he said.

Efo Filipo, as he is popularly called, who has been with the NPP since 1992 is currently a commercial farmer, but prior to this, he was working with Cocoa Board as the procurement officer and manager of the Mass Spraying Exercise.