This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus appointed by the command of God Our Saviour and by Christ Jesus our hope. To all New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates who are due to converge at University of Ghana to elect the flagbearer for your party for the next general election. May God our father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace.
It has been “Pauline” tradition to write letters to nations, churches and people as I did to the Corinthians, Roman and to people like Timothy. It has been more than two thousand years old since my first letter appeared in the Greek New Testament.
It has become necessary for me to write a letter to all the New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates. I think some of you would question the involvement of an Apostle in national politics and why is it that I have not been able to send similar letters to people in other political communities.
First and foremost, the true gospel is not only concerned about the spirit of an individual but also the social and political dimensions which he finds himself. Secondly, this congress has the potential for electing someone who can become the next president of Ghana. My involvement in national politics dates back to the Greco-Roman world. If you read all my books in the New Testament you will see that I have shown great interest in national issues. I wrote to the Roman people some centuries ago that ‘All government have been put in place by God’ and as preacher of the gospel I have to carry the gospel to every mount and mole hill. I have modified the translation to modern English for clarity and easy understanding. My earlier letter was more for the contemporary Shakespearian era.
Distinguished delegates, I am told you have less than two weeks to meet to elect the party flag bearer and that about seventeen brothers are contesting for the single position. This attests to the fact that your party believes in internal democracy. Your party stands at the crossroads. Whether your party wins or looses the next election depends on who becomes the winner of this election.
I have read across some circles that some of the aspirants are using cash to influence you the delegates for you to vote for them. How far this is true I do not know. I know this cannot happen among democrats like you. You should not accept any gift as you cannot distinguish these from bribes. You are too great a noble people to allow Ghana cedis and dollars to influence the way you think. The winner should not be the highest bidder. If your party was interested in the richest person becoming the flag bearer I think they would have taken the contest to the Ghana Stock Exchange or New York Stock Exchange.
I hear some brothers are campaigning on ethnic and tribal lines. Oh how can you allow this? This is blasphemy and stands against all the noble principles of democracy! In God there is no Northerner or Ashanti nor Ga or Akyem but the brotherhood of mankind. Why do you allow this to happen among you, Oh NPP? Ghana is greater than any tribe in this country so reducing the race to tribal politics would defeat the very purpose which democracy wants to achieve. I kindly implore your National Chairman, Peter Mac Manu to sanction anyone who campaigns on ethnic or tribal grounds.
Oh delegates, what determines who a great leader is? What determines who the flag bearer becomes? Is this the highest bidder, or someone who has been with the party for many years or someone who has the blessing of the incumbent president? None of these should be the benchmark in deciding whom you should vote for. It should not be given to anyone as token because he has worked for the party over the years. This position is not the head of the family which must be given to the elderly. Again, the contest is not a beauty pageant otherwise, your party would have given the contest to the organisers of Miss Ghana.
NPP delegate, you must know that whoever emerges as flag bearer must be a winnable candidate because he is going to contest the general election with other equally competent aspirants like Brother John Evans Attah Mills of the NDC and Brother Edward Mahama of the PNC. The candidate must be someone who is a potential president. So my distinguished delegates, think twice before you vote. Look for one who can appeal to floating voters in the next election. At this juncture of your nation's history, there is an urgent need for dedicated and courageous leadership. Your party in particular and Ghana in general needs a leader who can perform. You need to select a leader who can mitigate the misery of your nation; a leader who can part the waters and lead your nation in the direction of the Promised Land; a leader who can lift the boats stuck at the bottom, especially brothers and sisters in your three northern regions; a leader who can synchronize his head and heart together; a leader who can transform the economy of Ghana from primary producers of agriculture products to an industrialized and service economy. Your party needs a leader who not only talks but walks the talk. This calls for leaders of wise judgment and sound integrity--leaders not in love with money but in love with justice; leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with humanity. May the Lord give you his peace which surpasses all understanding. May you stand firm in the light of financial enticements and political coercion. I pray that God sustains your party during and after the congress whether in government or in opposition. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Shalom! Peace.
Sincerely yours, Apostle Paul
Postmark AD 2007
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