I’m not supporting Alan – Paul Afoko

Paul Afoko, one of the aspirants in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairmanship race, has said that he is not contesting the position to promote the presidential ambitions of Mr Alan Kyeremanten.

Mr Afoko said he was in the race to promote unity of the party and also ensure that the party recapture power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and not because of Mr Kyeremanteng’s presidential ambition.

Mr Kyeremanten has declared his intention to contest the flag bearer position of the NPP for the 2016 presidential election.

Mr Afoko, who was reacting to rumours that he is contesting to ensure that Mr Kyeremanten becomes the presidential candidate of the party for Election 2016, told Ghana News Agency in an interview in Koforidua that he was contesting as a unifier to bring all the perceived factions together for a common goal.

“I am not contesting for the position with pre-conceived ideas to push any particular aspirant as the party's flag bearer,” he added.

Mr Afoko said he wanted to refresh the party into an election-winning machine irrespective of who becomes flag bearer for the 2016 election.

He described himself as a true party man who is interested in working for the party and therefore traced his roots to the United Party (UP) tradition.

Mr Afoko said although the current executives had contributed their quota to build the party, it was important that others like him assume leadership positions to improve on the work that had been done.

He will be battling with the current Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, First Vice Chairman, Mr Fred Oware and Mr Stephen Ntim, a leading member of the party in March this year.

Mr Afoko said the NPP must not disappoint the good people of Ghana by losing the 2016 elections and it was against that backdrop party leaders who have what it takes to win elections should be elected.

He assured the massive followers of the party that he would embark upon a decorous campaign, devoid of insults, personal attacks, mudslinging and name-calling.