The North America Branch of the New Patriotic Party is gearing up for a historic Congress in Washington DC from September 22- 23, 2006.

Party delegates will descend on the capital from all corners of the USA and Canada. Special guests are expected from Ghana. To underscore the importance of Ghana's Diaspora, no less than eight of the currently known list of thirteen 2008 NPP Presidential aspirants are lining up to be seen and be heard. They are (in alphabetical order) -

Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Mr. Boakye Agyarko, Nana Akufo-Addo, Capt. (rtd) Nkrabeah Effah- Dartey, Dr. Arthur Kennedy, Prof. Mike Ocquaye, Mr. Yaw Osafo- Marfo and Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman. Ghana's First Lady is sending a representative. Lending additional heft to this impressive list from Ghana would be Mr. Mac Manu the current NPP Chairman and the General Secretary Nana Ohene-Ntow. Mr. Appiah-Minka a founding member of NPP will grace the occasion as the Keynote Speaker. Hushed is the biggest guest whose identity cannot be revealed in a public format. It is a great surprise that the organizers are keeping close to their chest to spring as a pre-Christmas delight on the attendees.

The delegates will have plenty to do that will begin with a grand Dinner Dance on Friday September 22nd at the Christian Life Development Center at 6424 General Green Way in Alexandria, VA. The following day, they will be waving their red, white and blue colors, highlighted by the ubiquitous Ghana flag and marching to the Blackburn University Center at Howard University in Washington DC to attack the marathon sessions.

The busy agenda has something for everyone- winning the 2008 elections; negotiating binding planks for the Diaspora; holding NPP North America Executive elections; and tackling some stubborn issues like a meaningful citizenship act and actual Diaspora voting in 2008 – Wow, you sure don't want to miss hearing how the Presidential hopefuls will answer some of these tough questions. Get a front seat, see you and spread the word.

In any event, pack your bags and confirm your attendance. Call Charles Dankwah at 703-550-1801 (dankwah@attglobal.net) or John Nyarku at 202-727-0368 (johnnyarku@yahoo.com) or Mohammed Idris at 703-628-3676 (mohammed.idris@dc.gov)