The Ghanaian community in Leeds gave a tumultuous welcome to the New Patriotic Party and an endorsement of Nana Akufo-Addo when the National Executives of NPP UK on Saturday May 17th inaugurated a new chapter at Leeds in the North of England. The youngest chapter in the UK has Mr. James Brobbey as its chairman. The other executives are Ben Apeadu, deputy chairman, Mamuna Diato, treasurer, Francis Aidoo, organiser, and Kofi Appiah as the publicity officer The patrons are Rev. Reginald Ofori – Atta and Rev George Asomaning.

In a speech to mark the inauguration, the chairman of NPP UK and Ireland, Mr. Hayford Atta-Krufi commended the members of the chapter for bringing themselves together to identify with the New Patriotic Party. He congratulated the new executive for the initiative and encouraged them to expand the membership to include as many Ghanaian residents in Leeds. He admonished them to go and tell the story of the successes and achievements of the NPP government under President Kufuor and the message of economic transformation being offered by the next President of Ghana Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He enumerated a number of achievements of the NPP government in infrastructural development, especially being the first administration to undertake the multiple take and managements of the construction of six major trunk roads in Ghana. On public transportation he commended the government for introducing the Metro Mass Transport. He said the competition posed by Metro Mass Transport has forced lorry fares at the barest minimum, thus easing financial pressure on public transport users. He enumerated the efforts being made by the government in improving port infrastructure to assist in safer and more secured cargo handling. He referred to the NPP government as the most compassionate of all government with responsible social programmes in education, health and micro financing to support children, the old and the needy in society. He said the government was doing everything it could to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich by its job creation venture in the National Youth Employment Programme. He said the government had created over 100,000 jobs in 138 districts under the NYEP with a basic objective to change the standard of living for the youth to ensure that they were gainfully employed. The national executive of NPP UK also advised and encouraged the new chapter to carry on the mantle of nation building by supporting the policies and programmes of the government. Mr. Marlon Anipa, the National Organiser in UK advised them to impress on Ghanaians for the need to maintain the NPP in power for as long as possible for continuity in programmes, projects and policies by encouraging their families and relatives to register to vote. Mr. Eric Agyeman, the branch Treasurer advised them to carry on with the message of the economic success story as this is the only way the government’s achievements can reach far and wide. Mr. Matthew Kyeremeh, Acting Secretary commented on the youthfulness of the group and said they constitute the future of the NPP in UK. Words of encouragement support and welfare was provided by Mr. Kwabena Afum Dankwah, the Welfare Officer.

On their part the interim executive of the Milton Keynes Chapter thanked the national executives for the inauguration and their support and assured the national executives that they will do everything possible to make the new chapter a showpiece in UK.