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PRESS STATEMENT
BY PATRIOTIC FUTURE OF
NPP
October 02, 2013
SUBJECT: THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL
REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF THE 4-YEAR MANDATE OF ELECTED
NATIONAL OFFICERS AND MPs.
The New Patriotic Party is a democratic party built on
the principles of choice, competition, fairness and
equity, and must be allowed at all times to go through a
process of election that is competitive. The recent
brouhaha that has emanated from the discussions of the
proposal by the National Chairman of the New Patriotic
Party is a great concern to us. A competitively
organized electoral process in our view will bring out
the best talents that will drive the party’s victory
agenda forward. The proposal before the National
Executive Committee (NEC) which was apparently authored
by Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey clearly goes against
the New Patriotic Party’s Constitution. Reference to
articles 6 and 9 clearly state that elected officers
shall have a mandate of 4 years and the only body with
the authorization to change this constitutional
provision is the National Delegates Conference.
The real challenges facing our great party must be
addressed using sustainable strategies devoid of
self-centered and parochial objectives. As a group, we
wish to find answers to these mind boggling questions;
• What was the involvement of the Polling Station
Executives in the last campaign who today, Jake believes
were the cause of our 2012 electoral defeat?
• Where is the Polling Agents’ allowance? As we speak,
many of our polling agents have not received their
responsibility allowance in the last election. These
same Polling Station Executives have been inflicted and
denigrated with more pain by accusing them of being
responsible for our defeat in the 2012 elections. The
situation is bad and clearly exposes our current
leadership as insensitive and a clear case of losing
touch with the grassroots of the party.
• What is the objective behind this proposal? The
proposal is egocentric and portrays our party leadership
as self-seeking individuals whose main agenda is
inimical to the unity and progress of our dear party.
We are calling on all party faithfuls to reject this
ill-intent proposal and maintain the BOTTOM UP APPROACH
OF SELECTING LEADERS. We are tired of the machinations
by Jake and Sir John, and we are by this statement
sending a strong warning to them to put a STOP to their
devilish acts that have the sole aim of sinking this
great party further into opposition. We lost the 2012
elections simply because of selfish and sluggish
leadership of Jake and Sir John.
In our humble opinion, fellow-following and
accountability are very critical to political party
organization, and we hereby demand account on the
following grounds;
1. The Ghc16, 000.00 paid by each parliamentary
candidate aspirants.
2. Revenue from the dues, text messages and the strong
membership drive (Printing of Cards).
3. The campaign funds raised by the party during the
electioneering campaign that were meant for polling
station organization.
We of the Patriotic Future of NPP believe that, the
focus of the outgoing National Party Executives should
be on identifying the reasons why we lost the 2008
election only by about 38,000 votes but 2012 election by
more than 325,000 votes indicating a whopping 750%.
The incompetence of the National Chairman and the
General Secretary is amplified in the paragraph 18 of
Mr. Jake Obestebi Lamptey’s proposal which states that
“After the primaries, the services of talented people
who ran on a losing slate are denied to the party. All
hands on deck remain a dream as some of such people
refuse to come forward and others are refused space in
the inner circle of the campaign.” This admission by
Jake Obetesi Lamptey should inform all and sundry that,
he has failed the party and must give way to new and
progressive leadership.
We demand the following from the National Executive
Committee and others:
• The internal party elections from Polling Station,
Constituency, Region and National officers MUST follow
the constitutional provisions of the party and be
finalized by April 2014;
• There should be consensus building and broader
consultations among all party stakeholders on critical
proposals as this one;
• An audit of the outgoing National Officers by a
neutral body set up by a yet to be elected National
Executive Committee;
• This proposal as authored by Jake has started creating
tension and division among the rank and file of the
party. We therefore call on National Council of Elders,
National Council of Patrons and H.E President Kufuor to
halt further discussions on the proposal at any forum of
the party in order to promote greater unity.
We are using this opportunity to call on all Executives
and members of the party to rise up and protect our
great tradition. As part of our commitment to our
beloved party, the members of this group will use all
means possible to stop the implementation of this
unconstitutional proposal. NPP must be built around the
ideology of free enterprise and prosperity for all but
not around individuals.
The current proposals if made to stand will mean that we
will have national executive officers for life and MPs
for life. How sad that the party that is touted for its
democratic credentials should now be seen wearing the
cloak of dictatorship.
Now is the time for all well-meaning members of the
party, to stand up and be counted. No longer should they
keep quite and allow a minority to dictate to the course
of the party. The party belongs to all members and the
views of its members must be made to count. Not just
that of a few who only led us to defeat in the past.
Long live New Patriotic Party!
Long live Ghana!
God bless us all.
SPOKESPERSONS:
Hon. George Mireku Duker 0241-515151
Sheikh M. Awal Larry 0264-945848
Nana Yaw Adutwum 0244-523996
Prince Agyei Nyarko 0543314686
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