NPP leaders tackle discontent within party

Two weekends ago at a political workshop, President John Agyekum Kufuor rendered an explanation to the rank and file members of his party who feel they are yet to receive their just reward for all the years of sacrifice to the New Patriotic Party.

The President, pleading for patience and understanding, astutely explained why the NPP felt it had no choice but to do things differently from the previous government. He said in 2001, theNPP, faced with major national challenges, believed it had no choice but to act responsibly by focusing on them, which gave the erroneous impression that the party was being ignored.

He mentioned an education and health systems that were in crisis and an economy that had lost its bearings, receiving huge applause from the gathering. He also admonished presidential aspirants within the party who were travelling around constituencies allegedly adding fuel to cold comfort, by promising to treat party executives and members much better if nominated as presidential candidate.

Last Saturday, one of the leading contenders to succeed President Kufuor added his voice to the call for greater understanding within the NPP. Saturday, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang reacted to the apparent discontent among followers of the NPP, with the public explanation that the ruling party is nationalistic in its policy outlook and "therefore seeks to serve the interests of everybody.” He assured party loyalists that they were never ignored but that Government had to first cure the economy to help it grow so that there will be enough cake for everybody. He said that the NPP continues to deliver on its mandate because it knows what the priorities are and is always informed by the greater national interest.

According to him, because of the responsible decisions taken since 2001, the country's economy under the NPP continues to move forward at an ever historic pace. Urging Ghanaians not to make the mistake of returning the National Democratic Congress to power, the presidential aspirant observed that Ghana, “is a country destined for greatness.”

The MP for New Juaben North and Minister for Water Resources, Works & Housing made the remark Saturday at the Annual Delegates Conference of the Greater Accra Regional branch of the NPP held in Accra.

Mr Owusu-Agyemang acknowledged that the complaints of the party supporters were genuine but urged them not to allow themselves to be deceived by throwing the baby away with the bath water, no matter what their circumstances were.

“I want you to understand that we are doing well and at the right time the coppers, the pesewas and cedis will trickle into people"s pockets but it takes time,” he told the crowd.

He maintained that the worst performance under the NPP administration would be better than the best that the NDC could ever offer.

He therefore urged his party’s supporters not to let the grumbling and growling, however justifiable, to affect their dedication and commitment in ensuring that the NPP hands over to the NPP come 2008.

On the security of the state, the former Interior Minister said Government was in control of affairs and warned anybody who intended to destabilise the nation not to attempt it.

Also speaking, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, told the party supporters that it would be unfair for them to compare their living conditions to that of their NDC colleagues when the latter was in Government.

This, he said, is because the PNDC\NDC ruled without adequate checks which culminated in the eventual mismanagement of the economy. He claimed that the NDC strategy was to take the narrow view by using resources meant to develop the nation to buy loyalty within their rank and file. The result, he pointed out, was in electoral defeat in 2000, as the nation as a whole suffered.

“If we play the fool for the NDC to come to power, we are all finished,” the man who led the two successful NPP national electoral campaigns warned his party.

His warning is in line with a strong fear within the country that the NDC, if elected in 2008, could unleash a corpulence of vengeance against the NPP, a point that has been more than implicitly expressed in the public addresses of NDC founder, former Head of State Jerry John Rawlings.

The Tourism Minister, on Saturday admonished the NPP supporters to dwell on the positive success stories of the Kufuor administration rather than complaining of neglect. His view was that negative messages could discourage and demoralise potential supporters, especially floating voters, from endorsing the incumbent party in the next general elections.

Delivering his speech, Sammy Crabbe, Greater Accra Regional NPP Chairman, enumerated activities lined up to reinvigorate the party in preparation for victory in the 2008 polls.

But, “the greatest threat to this party is not the NDC, but apathy due to the fact that we’ve not done a good job at ensuring that our foot soldiers and in many cases executive needs have been met in a permanent and more sustainable way,” he lamented.

Against this backdrop, the Chairman said the research committee is undertaking a project that will understand the issues in the various communities to set objectives so as to be able to strategise and decide on the quality of human resource needed to make the regional branch functional to respond to the needs of the electorate.

Mr Crabbe recalled how the NPP lost some seats within the region due to the unfair procedure in the selection of candidates and pledged that come 2008, the party will adhere strictly to the provisions of the NPP constitution without interference.