Asabee calls for all hands on deck in NPP

Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, aka Asabee,  a former Information  Minister in the Kufuor administration, has said the successful outcome of the October 18 presidential primary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is a giant step towards recapturing political power in 2016.

He has, therefore, called for all hands on deck within the party to realise this objective, saying, “This is not time to over- jubilate and lose focus on the final target of winning election 2016.”

Three aspirants — Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen and  Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh — contested the nationwide presidential primary in which the two-time presidential candidate of the party, Nana Akufo-Addo clinched a landslide victory pulling 117,413 votes, representing 94.35 per cent. Mr Addai-Nimoh got 1,128 votes, representing 0.91 per cent while Mr Kyerematen had 5,908 votes, constituting 4.75 per cent. The number of valid votes cast was 124,449, while 1,277 ballots were rejected.

Congratulating Nana Akufo-Addo on winning an overwhelming support from the delegates, as well as the spirited fight put up by Mr Addai-Nimoh and Mr Kyerematen in the primary, Mr Asamoah Boateng stressed the need for the party to tolerate all shades of opinion, utilise the energies of all of its members as well as their resources for the final push towards 2016 electoral victory.

Mr Asamoah Boateng, who himself contested for the position of the flag bearer of the party but could not make it to the five shortlisted aspirants, observed that having gone through elections with over 120,000 delegates, the NPP had shown that it has deep rooted democratic credentials that must be emulated by all parties.

In an interview, he described the October 18 election as a victory for the whole party and a step towards winning election 2016.

He thanked the party grassroots, executives at all levels for the peaceful primaries and charged them to not lose sight of the bigger picture of winning Election 2016.

He said the party members must avoid engaging in petty squabbles within and outside which tends to dissipate their energy.

Party structures

According to Mr Asamoah Boateng, the NPP needs to look at the structures of the party and its efficiency in executing a well laid-out strategic plan to ensure total victory.

“It calls for proper training, house-to-house campaigning and winning over non-party members and other party sympathisers to our fold,” he stated.

“We need to do that with good hearts and convincing arguments and go to the hamlets, farms, under mango trees and markets with our campaign messages,” he further stated.

Rapid response

Mr Asamoah Boateng also suggested the need for the party to have a proper communication strategy to pro-actively propagate the party’s good message to Ghanaians.

“We must set up rapid response and communication teams at the national, regional and constituency levels that will not wait for the NDC propaganda to sink before responding.”

“The party faithful must be committed without inducement and work the extra mile to ensure we dominate every corner of the country,” he stressed.

MP for Kwadaso

In a related development, the Member of Parliament for Kwadaso Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has said that the overwhelming victory by Nana  Akufo-Addo has sent the right signal that he was ready to take over the leadership of the country in 2016.

He said Nana Akufo-Addo's 94.35 per cent landslide victory was a clear indication that he was ready to take up power and manage the affairs of the country.

Dr Akoto, whose constituency gave Nana Akufo-Addo over 96 per cent votes said, “It is obvious from this victory that Ghanaians want him (Nana) to rescue them from the shackles of the current unwarranted economic hardship.”

However, he said this could only be achieved by presenting a united party to tackle the NDC in the 2016 general election.