*THE NPP MUST ELECT YAW BUABEN ASAMOAH AS ITS NEXT GENERAL SECRETARY*

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been in the news recently for going to the polls to select their leaders – at the polling station level, constituency level and very soon at the regional and national level. The Party is eager to win the next general elections at all costs. There are sudden talks about the competence of the General Secretary needed to achieve this objective. Some of members of the Party believe that the position of General Secretary is even more important than the National Chairman. According to them, the General Secretary is the image of the party. Do they have a point?

The position of the General Secretary in any political party is a vital one. Consider the role Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah played in the UGCC before finally breaking away to form his CPP. To most people, the General Secretary should be someone who is very eloquent, "down to earth," got the needed organizational skills and presentable. We believe the person must possess a certain "*je ne sais quoi*". The person must also be willing to work with all other executives to achieve the needed results and more.

Most people argue that the party leaders have fewer options in dealing with discipline issues amidst other problems and as such when it does comes to picking up the rod on members breaching the laws of the party just a little act is seen. “There is a need for a change of leadership. The time has come for the NPP to go back to our roots to win the confidence of Ghanaians” they say.

The grass roots campaign machinery must be strengthened. The executives must be equipped with the needed logistics to achieve the wanted results. Votes should not be lost out massively in the Party’s strongholds. The people, particularly at the grass roots level, must not be left out in the quest to win power. Most often, these people think all they are needed for is their votes to help win elections. They do not hear or see any of these political figures until after four years when the polls are approaching. Selflessness must be encouraged. The Party lost the last two successive elections because the spirit of sacrifice is no longer noticed as part of its moral fibre.

The Party needs to take a major decision to work to make it a very attractive political party once again. The people of Ghana's hearts and minds must be won. Action oriented and vibrant leaders must be elected.

2016 no doubt is going to be a really tough year for the Party, and thus the party needs a General Secretary who can form a strong internal communication structure if given the mandate. We all agree democracy is built on factionalism, and the different factions, rubbing against each other, is healthy and promotes divergent views. But let us not forget that factionalism also makes the Party look like it lacks focus. A General Secretary who will bring all rank file together to form a cohesive unit and keep the Party on track to prosecute an effective campaign in 2016 is what the Party needs.

That is why Mr. Yaw Buabeng Asamoah is the preferred candidate amongst our friends and us, and many other young people, who love the Party across the country. He is a very good communicator and always on top of issues. His simple witty approach to issues and people will make everyone feel part of the campaign. He will go a long way to debunk the current popular notion that "politics nowadays is a just a vicious cycle of insults and corruption". With YB as General Secretary, all faithful party supporters would be brought together to discuss their problems, and he will unite the various factions within the Party. Mr. Yaw Buabeng Asamoah as General Secretary will prioritize party loyalty and that is what the party needs in 2016.

2016 is nearer than we can imagine. There is increasing pressure of winning at all legitimate costs possible. And there is also the other sect that believes in luck. "Three is a charm," they say, but the battle still remains the Lord's. God Bless the NPP, God Bless Ghana.

*Written by:*

*Edna Gaisie & Imani Dramani*