President Kufuor addresses NPP Conference

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday asked supporters and sympathisers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stand firmly behind the government and to defend the Danquah-Busia tradition, which had always sought to build Ghana as a fair and prosperous nation.

President Kufuor was addressing the two-day annual Conference and Special National Delegates Congress of the Party in Sekondi. On Sunday, the delegates would confirm the candidature of President Kufuor as the Party's flag-bearer for the 2004 elections. President Kufuor said the government would always be fair in its dealings with Ghanaians to win more supporters into their fold.

He said the Party had a unique opportunity to show Ghanaians that there was enough in the country for everyone, adding "we have a historic opportunity to create wealth and enable this country realise its great potential. We can demonstrate that we do not need to destroy our opponents to be able to succeed".

"We shall correct the offensive imbalance among the citizenry but not by resort to the discriminatory and wicked practices of the past when the maxim was the winner takes all," he added. President Kufuor said the NPP should be commended for its tenacity of purpose and perseverance, which defeated a "sterile, cruel and futile dictatorship".

He said the Party's consistency had helped to realise the constitutional provision of multi-party governance. "I am convinced that this nation, which truly cherishes its freedom will continue to return our Party to power for as long as we continue to give it a caring, accountable, clean, tolerant and democratic government". President Kufuor, however, cautioned members and supporters of the NPP to appreciate that they were different from other parties, which imposed an onerous responsibility on them.

"It means that NPP Ministers of State, Parliamentarians, District Chief Executives and activists should not and cannot expect to be allowed to lord it over Ghanaians. That is not the NPP way. Ghanaians have had enough of that and rejected it completely. It means that an NPP administration has no choice but to serve the nation as transparently as is humanly possible," he said.

Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, described the Congress as "historic" and said it offered the Party another opportunity to demonstrate to Ghanaians and the world that "the NPP is a Party of true democrats, democrats by choice and not by force".

"Ours is a mass following of liberal minds. We may differ in our individual ways and opinions but we are united in our tolerance and respect for divergent views".

"This is the spirit of true democracy. This is the spirit of our party. It is in this light that I wish to urge all delegates to fulfil their mandate devoid of any acrimony," he added.

He asked the delegates to eschew petty squabbles and bickering and to unite to move the Party and the country forward. "NPP is the hope of Ghana. In 2000 we redeemed our countrymen and women from the reign of darkness and hopelessness. But now it is our responsibility to move them into their rightful place as a dignified and a happy people".

Mr. Haruna Esseku, National Chairman of the Party, stressed the need for regular interaction between the government and the party. He said this would enable members to be well informed of government polices and programmes.

Mr. Esseku said the government was doing its best but noted that there was a feeling within the rank and file of the Party that more must be done adding that, the perception was creating "a lot of discontent" and expressed the hope that "something would be done about it".

He urged both young and old to work together saying, "this is how we have survived the adversaries of the past and it is the only way by which we can move forward and beat the opposition in all aspects of the game".

The National Chairman said it was necessary for the National, Regional and constituency officers "to organise the party from the centre right up to the polling stations so that the party can always stay alive and active ready to back the government and fight elections with confidence and success".

Mr. Esseku said, "the NPP do not believe in principle of diverting public money into its coffers".

"We do not believe in the practice of extorting money and taking bribes to finance the party," he pointed out.

Mr Esseku urged members of the NPP, supporters and admirers to contribute financially to sustain the Party.

He warned members of the party not to make the mistake of assuming that victory in 2004 is a foregone conclusion. "We must not tempt to think that we can win the next election without a hard fight," he said and advised them to prepare adequately for the fight by exhibiting discipline, unity, harmony and commitment.

Mr Baba Jamal, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC in a fraternal message assured the NPP of collaboration to sustain democracy.

He expressed the hope that after the peaceful and successful congress of the NDC last month, the NPP' Congress would also be peaceful.

"Peace in NDC and NPP is an indication that there is peace in Ghana," he said.

Dr. Nii Noi Dowouna, General Secretary of the Convention People's Party (CPP) said the Party honoured the invitation to the Congress in recognition of the common objective to work harmoniously for the entrenchment of constitutional governance in Ghana.

Dr. Dowouna said the CPP was committed to the promotion of political pluralism devoid of acrimony, rancour and bitterness, which coincidentally were the NPP's philosophy.

He said it was the CPP's desire that the Congress would take decisions to deepen democratic practice in Ghana to ensure peace, stability and development.

The CPP General Secretary said the sole candidacy of President Kufuor for "the flag-bearership of the NPP is a fitting recognition of his able leadership, great sense of commitment and enduring efforts at advancing the objectives of the Danquah-Busia political tradition".

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday asked supporters and sympathisers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stand firmly behind the government and to defend the Danquah-Busia tradition, which had always sought to build Ghana as a fair and prosperous nation.

President Kufuor was addressing the two-day annual Conference and Special National Delegates Congress of the Party in Sekondi. On Sunday, the delegates would confirm the candidature of President Kufuor as the Party's flag-bearer for the 2004 elections. President Kufuor said the government would always be fair in its dealings with Ghanaians to win more supporters into their fold.

He said the Party had a unique opportunity to show Ghanaians that there was enough in the country for everyone, adding "we have a historic opportunity to create wealth and enable this country realise its great potential. We can demonstrate that we do not need to destroy our opponents to be able to succeed".

"We shall correct the offensive imbalance among the citizenry but not by resort to the discriminatory and wicked practices of the past when the maxim was the winner takes all," he added. President Kufuor said the NPP should be commended for its tenacity of purpose and perseverance, which defeated a "sterile, cruel and futile dictatorship".

He said the Party's consistency had helped to realise the constitutional provision of multi-party governance. "I am convinced that this nation, which truly cherishes its freedom will continue to return our Party to power for as long as we continue to give it a caring, accountable, clean, tolerant and democratic government". President Kufuor, however, cautioned members and supporters of the NPP to appreciate that they were different from other parties, which imposed an onerous responsibility on them.

"It means that NPP Ministers of State, Parliamentarians, District Chief Executives and activists should not and cannot expect to be allowed to lord it over Ghanaians. That is not the NPP way. Ghanaians have had enough of that and rejected it completely. It means that an NPP administration has no choice but to serve the nation as transparently as is humanly possible," he said.

Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, described the Congress as "historic" and said it offered the Party another opportunity to demonstrate to Ghanaians and the world that "the NPP is a Party of true democrats, democrats by choice and not by force".

"Ours is a mass following of liberal minds. We may differ in our individual ways and opinions but we are united in our tolerance and respect for divergent views".

"This is the spirit of true democracy. This is the spirit of our party. It is in this light that I wish to urge all delegates to fulfil their mandate devoid of any acrimony," he added.

He asked the delegates to eschew petty squabbles and bickering and to unite to move the Party and the country forward. "NPP is the hope of Ghana. In 2000 we redeemed our countrymen and women from the reign of darkness and hopelessness. But now it is our responsibility to move them into their rightful place as a dignified and a happy people".

Mr. Haruna Esseku, National Chairman of the Party, stressed the need for regular interaction between the government and the party. He said this would enable members to be well informed of government polices and programmes.

Mr. Esseku said the government was doing its best but noted that there was a feeling within the rank and file of the Party that more must be done adding that, the perception was creating "a lot of discontent" and expressed the hope that "something would be done about it".

He urged both young and old to work together saying, "this is how we have survived the adversaries of the past and it is the only way by which we can move forward and beat the opposition in all aspects of the game".

The National Chairman said it was necessary for the National, Regional and constituency officers "to organise the party from the centre right up to the polling stations so that the party can always stay alive and active ready to back the government and fight elections with confidence and success".

Mr. Esseku said, "the NPP do not believe in principle of diverting public money into its coffers".

"We do not believe in the practice of extorting money and taking bribes to finance the party," he pointed out.

Mr Esseku urged members of the NPP, supporters and admirers to contribute financially to sustain the Party.

He warned members of the party not to make the mistake of assuming that victory in 2004 is a foregone conclusion. "We must not tempt to think that we can win the next election without a hard fight," he said and advised them to prepare adequately for the fight by exhibiting discipline, unity, harmony and commitment.

Mr Baba Jamal, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC in a fraternal message assured the NPP of collaboration to sustain democracy.

He expressed the hope that after the peaceful and successful congress of the NDC last month, the NPP' Congress would also be peaceful.

"Peace in NDC and NPP is an indication that there is peace in Ghana," he said.

Dr. Nii Noi Dowouna, General Secretary of the Convention People's Party (CPP) said the Party honoured the invitation to the Congress in recognition of the common objective to work harmoniously for the entrenchment of constitutional governance in Ghana.

Dr. Dowouna said the CPP was committed to the promotion of political pluralism devoid of acrimony, rancour and bitterness, which coincidentally were the NPP's philosophy.

He said it was the CPP's desire that the Congress would take decisions to deepen democratic practice in Ghana to ensure peace, stability and development.

The CPP General Secretary said the sole candidacy of President Kufuor for "the flag-bearership of the NPP is a fitting recognition of his able leadership, great sense of commitment and enduring efforts at advancing the objectives of the Danquah-Busia political tradition".