The New Patriotic Party, NPP, (current largest opposition Political Party in Ghana) wing in Italy has called for unity among the Party Leaders in Ghana towards the next election in 2012.

This follows a meeting of the Party members held at Arzignano, Vicenza, in the north of Italy. Present were the interim-Executives of the Party wing made up of: Edward Amoako(Chairman), Michael Srem-Sei Gyata (Gen. Secretary), Samuel Asiedu Larbi (Secretary), Emmanuel Mensah, Owusu Donkoh, Nana Bosompim, Frimpong Duah – all members of the interim Board.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss issues that contributed to the Party’s defeat at the December 2008 in Ghana to the current ruling Party - the National Democratic Congress – and strategies to be evolved towards the next election.

Speaking before the members, the interim-Gen. Secretary, Srem-Sei Gyata, said multiplicity of contestants for the Party’s flagbearership, with each wanting to become the flagbearer, was not an impetus for unity but rather brought divisions and raised eyebrows among voters. “Such divisions and egocentricity contributed greatly to our defeat at last year’s election. There were also allegations levelled against the Party which needed immediate response of which our Leaders failed to deal with making us pay dearly for it,” he told his NPP folks.

In his analysis of events leading to the NPP losing the election, the Gen. Secretary mentioned some of the allegations against the Party as playing politics with fuel prices, the illegal fishing in Ghana waters and the Party functionaries not listening to advice from members. In another dimension he blamed Security Chiefs of the Ghana Police Force for the defeat of NPP at Tain Constituency, where result was vital to the final outcome of the election. He explains: “The Police should not have allowed the two Parties (NPP and NDC) campaign at Tain Consituency the same day, they should have anticipated there will be conflict in view of the competition between the two sides.” The NPP, he argued, deserves commendation for withdrawing from the electoral process at the Constituency in the interest of peace. In his final statements, the interim Gen. Secretary called on the Party hierarchy in Ghana to disown a member of the Party, PC Appiah Ofori, since his uncompromising attitude will affect the Party hard won achievements

The interim Secretary, Asiedu Larbi, making his contribution, said for the Party to win the next election they need to close their rank and file and contest with a united front. “No matter how qualified we may be to fill a certain position, all of us cannot be elected to that position so we must put our weight behind one Leader and avoid schism which could lead to failure,” he pointed out.

Owusu Donkoh, who also spoke during deliberations called on MPs in the Party not to neglect their Constituency but to visit them and help in solving the problems that they face. By so doing, he said, they stand a good chance of retaining their seat at the next election.

Members collectively threw their support behind Nana Akuffo Addo, the Party’s flag bearer at last year’s election, to again lead the Party in 2012.