In view of the expensive nature of political campaigning in countries around the world including Ghana, the Holland branch of the New Patriotic Party has kick started campaign funding with the launch of a novel fundraising network scheme at the Tulip Inn Amsterdam riverside hotel, to secure funds and resources among Ghanaians and party supporters in the Diaspora, in support of the 2012 electoral campaign in Ghana. The scheme has already received massive response among Ghanaians in Holland. It invites members and sympathizers to make monthly donation of a minimum Two Euro through Bank Direct Debit or Standing Order. All things being equal the scheme will run till at least December 2012.

Launching the scheme officially, Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, National Chairman of the NPP, applauded the Holland Branch for initiating the scheme and expressed gratitude to Ghanaians in Holland for their support for the New Patriotic Party by exhibiting their willingness to fund the party through registration and contribution to the scheme. He said the initiative is worthy of emulation by other party branches in the Diaspora. “The NPP will continue to need your moral and financial assistance from constituency to national level”, He regretted the persecution of ex-officials of the NPP government and other hardworking Ghanaians among them, are those who returned home to contribute their knowledge and skills to help Ghana strike oil. Such actions by Ghana’s current government, he said discourages investment and alienate citizens from contributing to nation building that results negatively on Ghana’s economy. Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey reassured members of a more effective link between the party head office and external branches to strengthen the party’s structures aimed at recapturing power in 2012.

In his welcome address, Mr. Kobby Annan, chairman of NPP-Holland, said, the NPP in spite of being in opposition continues to enjoy massive goodwill and support from Ghanaians at home and in the Diaspora, especially the Netherlands. It has therefore become imperative for the branches to deploy innovative legal means to involve all democratic and peace loving Ghanaians in raising funds for the party’s campaign, to ensure the NPP win the 2012 election. He charged the new national executives to create and preside over a strong, united and disciplined party, whose sole aim is to win political power. Chairman Kobby took the opportunity to express appreciation to Mr. Charles Owiredu, the Director of NPP International Affairs, for his devotion to work at the desk, but agitated for more effective communication with the external branches.

The General Secretary, Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, assured members of victory in the 2012 election, but demanded for more financial and human resources to tackle the dirty tricks deployed by the NDC during elections. He however cautioned members on the dangers in leaving party funding to bigger donors only, and expressed delight to get everyone aboard to contribute their widow’s mite to maintain the party’s democratic values.

President J.A. Kufuor expressed regret for his absence at the event but highly commended the NPP-Holland as well as contributors to the scheme. In a Goodwill message delivered on his behalf, the former president acknowledged the role of the overseas party branches and expressed gratitude and also called for more support for party and Ghana’s electoral process. He said, this is the time to inculcate in the minds of all members that nobody but us, would build this party. “I know the tremendous work that our overseas branches do in aid of the NPP. As a candidate, I visited many of such branches and witnessed at first hand their commitment and devotion to the party. The only way for us as a party move forward to victory in 2012 and ensure a strong and vibrant party is for all of us members, to dig deep into our resources and donate generously to enable the party to ‘stand on its two feet’.” He said, the launch of this fund-raising network scheme by the NPP-Holland is yet another example of contributions to the party, and he has no doubt that it will be replicated elsewhere.

President Kufuor also touched on a vital ingredient in democracies with relation to Ghana’s 2012 election and advocated for the creation of a biometric voters register and the development of an electronic voting system. He urged Ghanaians abroad to use their status in the host countries to help to emphasis the need for Ghana to adopt such systems and also help to sensitize the international community on the need to support Ghana’s efforts towards moving in that direction. “As you all know the world is now going digital and many countries, some with larger populations and higher illiteracy levels than ours, have adopted biometric voter-registration and electronic voting systems. These systems are more transparent, easier to operate and in the final analysis more cost-effective than the manual system we use now. We in Ghana as leaders of the democratic process in Africa, have no excuse but to go digital in electoral systems. I have no doubt that when we have a clean register which cannot be easily tampered with and a voting mechanism that is transparent and devoid of much abuse, the NPP will surely win election 2012, for we are truly the largest party in Ghana.” The statement read.

Ms. Susana Akomeah 2ndt vice chair of NPP-UK & Ireland led a delegation whiles Mr. Alhassan Yakubu Tali (PRO) led the Germany branch, with Mr. Alex Osei Minkah, Chairman of NPP Italy leading his branch to the launch. All leaders of the delegation took turns to support the innovation and indicated the immediate emulation of the scheme at their respective branches. Source