Message to NPP from Cincinnati Chapter of NPP

MESSAGE TO NPP NATIONAL DELEGATES CONGRESS.

In probably a few weeks time, some of our privileged few will gather in our nation's capital, Accra to elect a flag bearer for our noble party, The New Patriotic Party. Thank God, our party is democratic enough for this onerous job to fall on the shoulders of all of us. Unlike the opposition NDC, they had it easy' because the owner and founder of their party had the sole responsibility to choose.

Choosing a Presidential candidate is not easy. Apart from the odd qualifications of who is young or old, tall or short, handsome or ugly, rich or poor, old timer or new comer, the delegates need to choose the one who has the best qualifications to unite the party, lead the party to victory and above all, lead the nation.

All the contestants claim to be the best candidates to be the flag bearer, but we need a candidate who is:

1) An intelligent person who knows the issues

2) A candidate who can propagate the ideals and principles of the party

3) A candidate who is charismatic, articulate, lover of freedom, justice, and equality.

4) A candidate who has had an impeccable public past record

5) A candidate who will put the people first, fix our broken school system, improve health care delivery, create jobs, unify the country, promote transparency and accountability in government and improve internal security.

6) And finally, a candidate who can make government accessible to all.

Delegates should be bold to eliminate any candidate, regardless of their popularity if in their minds; such candidates cannot win and/or unify the country. Delegates should not rely on what candidates say about themselves but select the one who had proven himself and has a tract record.

If the presidential flagbearer need to have some prerequisite qualifications, then the delegates who will also be doing the choosing, need to be qualified enough to know the responsibility placed on their shoulders. In essence, the delegates should be qualified enough to know the rules of the game, what qualities the aspiring flagbearer should have and whether the contestant has a national appeal to win. Whoever they choose must have the capacity to grow the party by attracting non traditional NPP voters.

In the past months of campaigning by our over seventeen contestants, there has been a lot of information and disinformation, personal attacks, mudslinging, false pretenses, half truths, and in fact, blatant lies. Some have enlisted others to write in the various media, opinions, and some from among the media to promote them in their columns.

In the mad scramble to win the nomination, the campaign, have at times, degenerated into personal attacks and self promotions. But it is said that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. That is why the National Chairman, Mr. Peter Mac Manu has from time to time, admonished the candidates to stop fighting each other to preserve party unity and rather articulate their vision for the party and nation.

The delegates should wake up to do an honest job. They should study the party?s constitution and eschew the love of money by refusing to accept the huge bribes floating around.

And so I appeal to my fellow elephant delegates, to approach this selection conference with an open mind, a desire to win, and above all, love of party and country.

Presented by ;Felix Gyabaa-Mensah

Chairman, Cincinnati Chapter of NPP-USA