Agona Swedru, Dec 25, GNA - Mr George Tawiah-Walker, the parliamentary candidate of the National Reform Party (NRP) for Mfantseman East in the 2000 elections, has called on the National Executive Council of the party to listen to the views of activists to formulate strategies to organise the party.

He said, "politics is not gambling nor a dice game of chance, rather it's a consistent painstaking endless struggle with a focus on socio-economic development".

Mr Tawiah-Walker stated that "the infant party must be opened up and be allowed to evolve free with a succinct ideology and philosophy," adding that, "no one should make attempt to hijack the National Reform Party since it has become a progressive political organisation after individual sacrifices".

In a to the National Executive Council copied to the media, he said, "We must be book smart and street smart, money counts much in politics the ability to mobilise people and to raise funds must be tactical agenda for us through effective leadership".

He noted that the National Executive Council had to take a decision or action with regard to the democratic governance and development of Ghana, saying, national interest should be paramount and must come first before any other interest.

Mr Tawiah-Walker noted that after fighting to remove the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from power in the 2000 elections, a section of the leaders failed to adhere to the NRP philosophy of Ghana first by turning down invitations of the then President-elect, President J A Kufuor to join an all-inclusive government to move Ghana forward. He expressed regret that, that decision was taken and said it was in contravention of the constitution of the party out of pride, conceit and personal interest of some leaders of the NRP.

"This is the plain truth, it hurts a time but truth is easy burden to carry than the contrary," Mr Tawiah-Walker state. 25 Dec 04