Wa, June 5, GNA - Mr Alan Kyerematen, who is campaigning to be the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) flagbearer for the 2012 General Election, has expressed commitment to make polling agents the rallying point for the party's campaign at the grassroots.

He observed that the inclusion of the polling station executives in NPPs campaign trail would offer the party strength within communities, lorry parks and markets where elections are won or lost. Addressing party executives in the Upper West Region, Mr Kyerematen said: "Resources including money, t-shirts, posters and all that was needed to run a campaign in the constituencies would be channelled through the executives and the polling agents."

"If we want power we must resource the polling station executives and the constituency executives and we would see the change," he added. The campaign which saw him criss-cross Wa, Nadowli, Kaleo and Jirapa gave him the opportunity to interact with members of the constituencies. He made a stop over at the graveside of the late Jato Kaleo, one of the founding members of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition. At a meeting with opinion leaders to kick-start the tour, Alhaji Abdulai Alhassan, the first Upper West Regional Chairman of the NPP said: "Ghanaians are crying for Alan K who they see as someone who could provide good leadership to the country."

"It is for this reason that delegates who would choose the party's next flagbearer must bear in mind that their duty is not to the NPP alone but for the entire nation," he stressed.

Mr Kyerematen told the party members that, "for a party in power to win only two out of the 10 regions in the country, it was clear that if the party wants to win the next elections, they needed a change in strategy and leadership for one who can attract votes from all over the country." Accordingly, he urged the delegates at the August 7 congress of the NPP to elect him among the five candidates, who have put themselves forward to lead the party, adding that, "beating the NDC (National Democratic Congress) would not be an easy task and this means fighting them boot for boot and bumper to bumper".

Mr Kyerematen said, when elected the flagbearer, he would ensure that all constituencies set up small businesses called Constituency Business Ventures to help finance local party activities. "In addition, a welfare fund would also be set up which would be used to assist members in time of need." "Many delegates say they will elect a candidate who would help the party to win the next election. The talk is that Alan Kyerematen is the one who would win the election for the NPP," he said. 5 June 10