Afoko warns NPP presidential aspirants against media war

The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Paul Afoko, has appealed to aspirants for the flag bearer position of the party and their supporters to stop the unnecessary media circus and rally behind the new leadership to reconcile and bring unity to the party.

According to him, the party had a lot of work to do in their quest for victory in the 2016 elections, and that required discipline in ensuring that the unity of the party was not adversely affected by personal opinions of aspirants expressed in media circles.

Mr Afoko said this when he addressed his maiden press conference at the party’s head office in Accra Tuesday. 

Other newly elected executive members who were present were Messrs Freddie Blay, Sammy Crabbe, Abankwah Yeboah, John Boadu, Sammy Awuku, Kamal Deen and Madam Otiko Djaba.

Mr Kwabena Agyepong was absent, and was said to be in hospital receiving treatment for the injuries he sustained in an accident prior to the Tamale congress.

United party necessary

Mr Afoko said whoever was elected to lead the party into the general election would need a united, strong and battle-ready party to achieve his goal of victory.

The party, he observed, was in transition and called on the media not to take people’s personal opinions as those of the party.

He said the party would hold its first steering committee meeting tomorrow and would in due course give party members the planned programme of activities, while agreeing to a question that the flag bearer would be elected  two years clear of the 2016 elections, as had been done in the past. 

Party overhaul

Mr Afoko also hinted of a comprehensive overhaul of the party’s structures to strategically place it in readiness for victory in the 2016 elections.

To that end, he said, “My priority is to oversee the strengthening of the various structures of the party at all levels. The composition and leadership of the various committees of the party will also be reviewed. We will address all outstanding issues relating to the pillars of the party, from the polling stations through to the constituency, regional and national levels.”

The National Council of the party, he said, would also be reconstituted in accordance with the party’s constitution.

Ghanaians waiting for NPP

Mr Afoko contended that the 2016 general election was crucially important to the people of Ghana and that from his extensive travels around the country, he had become aware that Ghanaians were waiting for the NPP.

“We cannot afford to fail them. It is for this reason that I think we cannot and should not allow narrow and parochial interests to get in the way,” he prayed.

To achieve that aim, he invited all party members and sympathisers who had become inactive and withdrawn for one reason or another to come back to the fold and continue actively and meaningfully for the success of the party.

“Indeed, I am inviting all who love this party to come on board and work together to take our party back to power. It is in our collective interest to bury our differences and work together for our survival. Your party needs you now!” he said.

Time for revival

Mr Afoko called on members of the NPP to revive the spirit of service, sacrifice and selflessness in order to rejuvenate the base of the party as the national executive worked at restoring the party as a genuinely united force and ensure that its machinery at the grass-root level was resourced and well oiled to prosecute an effective campaign and prepare the people’s minds for a change.

In outlining his battle plan, he said, he intended to be strategic in thinking and action, with power for the party as the ultimate goal.

His tenure, he said, would be governed by the tenets of the party’s constitution and that the executive would, at all times, take “deliberate and measured decisions in the best interest of the party”.

“I want to reiterate my promise to the party and especially to future contestants for the flagbearership that I will remain neutral. I will urge the other executive members to do the same. We shall be honest brokers, unifiers and  committed to the party and with the support of all members and sympathisers of this great party, we will carry this party into government,” he said.

Police investigations

Mr Afoko called on the police to expedite their investigations into the shooting incident that nearly marred the NPP’s conference in Tamale, saying incidents like that were becoming too frequent and members of the NPP appeared to be at the receiving end.

 “I, therefore, wish to appeal to the security agencies to work hard to bring the culprits to book,” he added.