Posted: Daily Guide |Tuesday, 10 August 2010
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is getting ready to swing into full campaign after electing its presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Party General Secretary Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie says “now that the internal contest is over, we have no choice but close our ranks and work towards a common goal.”
The party has consequently dissolved the campaign teams of the various aspirants who contested for the NPP’s flag-bearer slot which Nana Addo won and asked the rank and file of the party to close their ranks since “there is now just one candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, with the entire party as his campaign team.”
Mr Owusu Afriyie, who is fondly called Sir John, told DAILY GUIDE yesterday that they started campaign the very day the NPP lost the 2008 elections and that they are now focusing their energies on the battle ahead, the 2012 elections, emphasing “we shall work to win the 2012 general elections.”
“Everyday has been a campaign period, we don’t have any specific time that we are going to launch our campaign. The campaign is to get the NDC out. So we are not going to wait until 2012,” he said.
He has therefore implored polling station, constituency, regional and national executives to continue working towards the party's return to power in 2012, whilst commending them for playing no mean role in the just-ended congress.
The party has thus sent a heartfelt gratitude to all who helped in making the congress a success.
Though many doubted its ability to carry out the reforms and expansion of its electoral college, Sir John said the NPP has demonstrated that indeed, it is possible.
“We are grateful to the former President, John Agyekum Kufuor and the National Council of Elders for the fatherly role they have played in the reform of our electoral processes climaxing in the spectacular selection of the party's flag-bearer for the 2012 general elections,” he noted.
The party further extended gratitude to the Electoral Commission and the various institutions, especially the police, for providing security for the many activities it carried out.
It sent similar gratitude to the media, both print and electronic, for their tireless effort, adding that it is looking forward to a better relationship with them.