Accra, Dec. 9, GNA - An aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) sa= id on Wednesday that while the party belonged its members, government was a gift because non-party members' votes helped the party to win election.

"The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is ours whether in government or opposition, whether one benefited from the party or not, indeed, whether one faces persecution for the sake of the party, or not, whilst government is= a gift. (This is) because non-party voters, whose votes are necessary to w= in power, are attracted to vote for a party at any point in time, a party th= at appears to them to have the most credible message and means of enhancing national welfare," Mr Yaw Buaben Asamoa, aspiring General Secretary state= d in Accra. Speaking to newsmen in Accra on the declaration of his intention to contest the NPP General Secretary position, he extolled his capabilities to lead the party out of opposition in 2012 to break the two-term political cycle of governance. Mr Asamoa said the NPP demonstrated solid capacity to mobilise diver= se resources for growth while in office.

However, weak structures made it impossible for the authorities to manage factional excesses, which ultimately undermined public confidence in the party leading to its defeat in 2008.

Mr Asamoa said: "I believe the lessons learnt show that whilst facti= ons are normal in any great democratic organisation of competing ideas, recognised factions must never become larger than the party as a whole. "And that is why I offer myself. I pledge to serve you to break new grounds. I stand for a united party that listens and acts on the concerns= of voters.

"I stand for continuous expansion of the decision making power of th= e party to grassroots dues paying members. I believe a well organised party=

can rise above internal factions and spend its energy on the urgent econo= mic and social issues of the day." Mr Asamoa declared that politics was a force for social good but conceded that mistakes can be made. "I also insist mistakes ought to info= rm the future rather than be the basis for dismantling public policy in directionless vendetta." On his political credentials, Mr Asamoa, who was aide to former Vice=

President Aliu Mahama, said: "I was a youth representative on the inter-party Joint Action Committee formed after the dubious 1992 election= s and a veteran of the Public Order Act and Radio Eye demonstrations as wel= l as the Kumepreko protests.

"As a governance specialist with a work history spanning the private=

sector, civil society and the public sector, I have an exceptional team leadership skills, public advocacy and strategic analytical skills, found= ed on a thorough grasp of institutional and legal issues."

Mr Asamoa said he was the initiator and co-founder of Ghana Integrit= y Initiative and Ghana Anti-corruption Coalition in the advocacy sector. In the public sector, "I served as a consultant to the National Governance Programme in the Office of the President, and Senior Aide to t= he former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama". Mr Asamoa also touted his extensive media competence, which includes= a show moderator on 'Forum' and 'Governance Hour' on Radio and 'Talking Poi= nt' on Ghana Television, and moderated GTV election panel that reviewed the transition from NDC to NPP in December 2000. He therefore called on NPP delegates to vote for him at the Special Delegates' Conference scheduled for December as the General Secretary. 9 Dec. 09