NPP aims at winning massively at 2004 elections

Sunyani, Feb. 16, GNA - Mr Haruna Esseku, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party said in Sunyani on Monday that the party aimed at winning the December 2004 elections massively "so that the NDC will not rise from the ashes of defeat again".

He said the NPP's victory would be so total that the NDC would not be considered as a major party again and there would be only one dominant party, the NPP, for a long time.

Mr Esseku was addressing the opening of a four-day strategic review seminar attended by selected regional executives of the party throughout the country. It was to part of a series to assess the performance of the party.

The seminar is aimed at training the executives towards an effective planning strategy to ensure free and fair elections in December.

The NPP Chairman explained that it did not mean the party advocated for a one-party state and cited that Japan, considered as a leading democratic nation, was dominated by the Labour party and that had proved to be very beneficial to the country.

"One party dominating the political scene does not mean a one-party state," he said, adding that it was only through the NPP administration that Ghana could rise to become a leading country in Africa.

Mr Esseku gave the assurance that the NPP's structures would be well resourced for the organization of seminars and workshops to equip members of the party for the realization of this goal.

He urged the party executives to concern themselves with the impending voters' registration exercise because "our victory in the 2004 elections will depend on what we achieve in the exercise".

The NPP Chairman cautioned that the new register would not be foolproof and it would be the responsibility of the party executives and members to help ward off any malpractices to ensure a clean register for free and fair elections.

"We need to keep a vigilant eye and choose enlightened polling agents to help nip in the bud any machinations to rig the elections," he added.

Mr Dan Botwe, General Secretary, explained that the seminars were part of a planning strategy to train about 100,000 party officials by March to help ensure fair and free elections in December. He urged party executives to exert themselves in all activities of the party and not to limit themselves to the responsibilities of their positions.

The General Secretary expressed appreciation for the positive response of the executives to the seminar.

Mr Lord Commey, National Organiser, said participants would be taken through the National Health Insurance Scheme, information management, leadership skills, facts on the national economy and government/party relationship.

Mr Yaw Adjei-Duffour, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, asked members and executives of the party to exhibit sacrifice, commitment and hard work to help the party to consolidate its position.

The Deputy Regional Minister appealed to the national executive to help weed out undesirable elements within the party, saying the NPP could do well only if members exhibited a high level of discipline. There is the need to sanction troublemakers in the party, he said, and called on members in the region to redouble efforts to enable the party to win all seats in the region.