NPP national executive sworn into office

THE newly elected national executive of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was sworn into office in Accra yesterday with a call on members to work hard to ensure that the party increases its parliamentary seats in the next elections slated for 2004.

The out-going National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Samuel Odoi Sykes, who said this, charged the new national executive to improve on the performance of the former national executive by ensuring that the NPP wins an additional 25 seats in the next parliamentary polls.

According to Mr Odoi-Sykes, the 2004 elections would pose greater challenges for the party since the NPP will be contesting it as the ruling party and not as a party in opposition.

The former NPP chairman also implored the national executive to assist the party to review portions of its Constitution which have become irrelevant and inconsistent with the realities on the ground.

He cited, for example, the rules and regulations concerning members of the party eligible to contest its Presidential slot and national executive positions.

Mr Odoi-Sykes called for unity among the national executive members since the party will hold them responsible if the front of the party weakens due to their differences.

He urged them to strive to maintain the existing membership and initiate new measures to mobilise more people to join its ranks in preparation towards the next elections .

Mr Harona Esseku, the new National Chairman, pledged, on behalf of his colleagues, to transform the NPP into a formidable political machinery that would win elections into the foreseeable future.

Other executive members sworn in were Mr Stephen Ntim, First National Vice Chairman; Mrs Agnes Adzo Okudzeto, Second National Vice-chairperson; Mr Edmund Annan, Third National Vice-Chairman; Mr Dan Botwe, General Secretary, Mr Michael Dugau, National Treasurer and Mr Lord Commey , National Organiser.

Present at the ceremony was Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs.