NPP targets 80% of parliamentary seats in Greater Accra

Accra, April 19, GNA - The Greater Regional Secretariat of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday disclosed a new political party organization strategy aimed at propelling the party to win over 80 per cent of the 27 parliamentary seats in the region.

"The strategy seeks to empower and increase our impact in seven constituencies we lost with marginal votes during the Elections 2004 - Odododiodioo, Ayawaso East, Ashiaman, Sege, Abokobi Madina, Dade Kotopon and Kpone Katamanso," Mr Ben Brown, NPP Regional Secretary, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.

He said they would also consolidate their operational impact in four constituencies they won with marginal votes - Krowa, Ablekuma Central, Adenta and Ledzokuku."

Mr Brown said the third phase of the strategy to "Capture 80 Percent Seats," would focus on consolidating and reinforcing the party machinery in the 16 constituencies they won in 2004 by ensuring that the party structures in these constituencies were also empowered financially.

He said the region had mapped out an economic strategy to engage the party's foot soldiers, polling station executives, canvassers and party agents on a fulltime scale where they would be paid monthly salaries and wages.

The plan is to ensure that officials whose activities the party considers as central for electoral victory concentrate on their core business of propagating the NPP's agenda for Elections 2008. The Regional Secretary explained that money for these activities would be raised through membership dues, fund-raising and other income generating activities, which include the establishment of jobs.

Mr Brown said currently the regional secretariat had established a pilot biscuit factory for the Ablekuma and Korle Klottey districts, managed by party members and proceeds from these factories would be channelled for party activities.

He said the secretariat had secured portable car washing equipment and 30 cars with support from the overseas branches to be run commercially to generate funds for party operations. Each constituency is to own one vehicle on hire purchase agreement. "With these fantastic arrangements, the region intends to free the burden on their operational force, sharpen their campaign strategy skills, as a soldier on the battle field needs the maximum concentration and must be free from all emotional, financial and other hindrances as much as possibly."

Mr Brown said they would concentrate on and intensify the house-to-house campaign all-year round to spread the achievements of government and party since its assumption of power.

The NPP Regional Secretary stressed: "If you fail to blow your horn nobody will do that for you, the region believes that as a party we urgently need to spread the good news of the party to defuse the vile propaganda of the opposition parties."

He commended the MPs from the region for their performance in parliament and the constituencies, but urged them to intensify their impact, work in collaboration with all the party structures and serve the general interest of the party. 19 April 07