Diaspora News of Monday, 6 October 2014

Source: Zoure Stephen

Afoko Hailed in UK

The National Chairman of the Opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr. Paul Afoko was hailed by party members at the Dominion Centre, Wood Green London when he interacted with the United Kingdom (UK) branch of the party.

Mr. Afoko and his General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong who were in the UK as guests of the Conservative party meeting with other world leaders despite their tight schedule, met with the party to outline their plans towards election 2016.

The discussion centered on party unity, the impending presidential primaries, campaign strategies and more importantly logistics for the party.

After clearly outlining his vision for the party and measures in the offing to ensure its fruition, members in the hall had no choice but give him a standing ovation with a thunderous applause.

Intermittently as he addressed the members and leaders of the UK branch, they kept cheering him up urging him to give up his best for the party to win power in 2016.

Mr. Afoko reaffirmed his commitment to the party and reiterated his neutral stance on the internal contest within the party promising to back whoever emerges as flagbearer of the party after October 18.

He maintained that the ultimate goal of his administration is to ensure that the NPP wins power in 2016 disclosing that he would not do anything to endanger the party’s electoral victory.

To this end he stated categorically that he had no hatred for Nana Akuffo Addo as being bandied around or any of the other aspirants seeking to be torch bearers of the party in 2016.

"I do not hate Nana Addo or any of the flagbearer hopefuls and will not do anything to endanger our collective victory. All I insist on is building a strong independent party from the grassroot through to national; a machine is strong enough to deliver us our victory and sustain that victory. That is my sworn responsibility and I intend to see it through," Mr. Afoko said.

The National Chairman was saddened by recent occurrences within the party blaming the situation on what he described as unnecessary mistrust, and suspicion coupled with a certain resistance to reforming on how certain key issues are being handled in the party’s leadership.

Members who were given the platform to ask questions and seek clarity on matters bothering them, urged the current National Leadership of the party to remain steadfast in their vision but advised they should endeavour to reach out more to members.

This way the vile propaganda war that has been waged against them by some self-seeking individuals within the party will not see the light of day.

Mr. Kwabena Agyepong on his part, reminded members of the vision and ideals of the party and called on all members to be circumspect in their utterances in order not to endanger the party’s chances in 2016.

"We must all have confidence in our leadership. I ask for that same trust and confidence in whoever becomes our flagbearer," Kwabena Agyepong said.

"A myriad of problems face Ghanaians under the mismanagement of John Dramani Mahama, why must we be drawn into petty internal squabbles neglecting the more serious issues of national governance that confront us?" he queried.