THE Upper East Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has resolved to adopt very transparent measures to ensure that whoever is elected in any of the constituencies in the region has the support of everybody.
This is to avoid emerging rebels and independent parliamentary candidate’s contesting alongside the party’s selected candidate, a practice that derailed the fortunes of the party in the 2008 general elections.
The Regional Secretary of the NPP, Mr Joseph Kpemka Dindiok, disclosed this to the Daily Graphic after a one-day stakeholders meeting held in Bolgatanga to map out a strategy towards the restructuring and repositioning of the party ahead of the 2012 general elections.
The meeting of the party in Bolgatanga, on Saturday, brought together current and former regional and constituency executives, former and present Members of Parliament, former District Chief Executives, former government appointees, elders and members of the regional communication team of the party.
Mr Kpemka said it was also agreed at the meeting that money should not be the foundation of who becomes a parliamentary candidate in any constituency but rather the popular choice of the people.
The delegates resolved that every constituency would be given a fair hand to select a candidate who would truly reflect the wishes of the masses and, in the general election, emerge victorious.
According to Mr Kpemka, the executive would also educate the people that if somebody comes with a sack of money for them, they should take note that it is not money that would make them win the 2012 election but their competencies.
On financing, he said the meeting resolved that the party in the region should embark on a fund-raising exercise, including the levying of individuals within the party, to support the revamping of the party in its quest to recapture power from the ruling NDC.
Mr Kpemka said it was sad that less than two years after exiting office, the party was grappling with basic problems that should have been solved long before this time and appealed to the rank and file of the party to contribute their widow’s mite to improve upon the current financial and logistical state of the party in the region.
The Secretary said reports from the 13 constituencies in the region bordered on funds and logistics, with some of them asking the national executive to give them the autonomy to run the party with the supervision of the regional executive in line with the party’s constitution.
Earlier in her welcoming address, the Regional Chairperson of the party, Mrs Agnes Asangalisa Chigabatia, said the primary aim of the meeting was to seek unity among members, especially after a fiercely contested regional elections and presidential primaries.
“Unity is an essential ingredient without which the party cannot wage a co-ordinated campaign to over the rigging machinery of the NDC in the next elections,” she said.
Among those present included Mr John Ndebugre, former PNC MP for Zebilla who crossed carpet to the NPP, the former Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, the former DCEs for Garu-Tempane and Talensi-Nabdam, Messrs Emmanuel Asigri and Sebastian Tibil.
Also present were the former MCEs for Bolgatanga and Bawku, Messrs Rockson Bukari, Abdul Rahman Gumah and Abdulai Abanga. The MP for Navrongo Central, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, was also in attendance.
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