NPP National Delegates Conference
History was made over the weekend at the NPP National Delegates Conference which saw the ousting of an entire executive. Apart from Otiko Afisah Djaba who retained her seat as National Women's Organiser, the entire Jake Obetsebi Lamptey led executive was shown the exit.
There are a number of factors which could perhaps have accounted for this mishap notable among them are the Executive's failure to secure victory for the NPP in the December 2012 general election.
Also was the decision to challenge the election results in court when the executive knew perfectly well they could not be successful. The election petition which dragged for about eight months impacted negatively on the national economy as investors kept a wait and see posture.
The Tamale Conference if for nothing at all has succeeded in removing the tag on the NPP as an Akan party. As a strategy the party decided to hold its National Delegates Conference in the North to win back or retain the confidence of party faithful and floating voters in that part of the country.
The election results have ensured regional balance on the National Executive as almost all tribes are now represented. Paul Afoko the new National Chairman deserves tons of commendation for his resilient spirit. He emerged victorious despites several machinations to frustrate him out of the race.
In a way, this perhaps also gave him sympathy votes.
Incumbent Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey deserves no tears for performing so abysmally in the race garnering only 66 votes as against Paul Afoko's 2,034. Some Analysts believe it was a pay back time for Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey, for purchasing a State Bungalow he stayed in whilst a
Minister.
Also deserving loud applause is the new General Secretary, Kwabena Adjei-Agyepong who a few days to the Conference had a near-fatal accident while on his campaign which most people thought will take him out of the race given the state of his vehicle after the accident.
Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, the out gone General Secretary must today be licking his wounds for his indiscretion in coming out openly to express support for the party's 2012 flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo when nominations are yet to re-open.
His vituperation against the Supreme Court Judges which landed him with a fine escaping custodial sentence by the skin's breath could also be cited. The emergence of firebrands like Sammy Awuku and John Boadu on the National Executive is likely to give party supporters a ray of hope. Smooth-talking Sammy Awuku had a brush with the law during the Supreme Court hearing of the 2012
election petition which sent him spending several weeks in jail.
As things stand now, the NPP has been reinvigorated as the party is believed to have jumped a major hurdle which positions it strategically and poised to wrest power from the ruling NDC in the 2016 general election.
This however will be a herculean task if the party does not close its ranks to wage the war with a united
front. The shooting of nine supporters of the party at Aboabo a suburb of Tamale by unidentified gunmen is most unfortunate and the perpetrators must bow their heads in shame.
It is regrettable the Police are yet to make an arrest several days after the incident. Generally the successful and peaceful conduct of the conference is indicative of the NPP's resolve to be strategically different in election 2016. It is hoped the vim and enthusiasm exhibited by party supporters in Tamale will be carried over to the election of the flagbearer.
It is too early yet to determine where the party's choice of flagbearer will go but a local proverb says a busy market is determined the previous day. If the present crop of elected leaders have any influence on the choice of flagbearer then we need to brace ourselves for a major challenge.
We say Ayekoo to the NPP for a conference well organised and to the new officers a successful term of office. To the losers we say better luck next time.
BY JUSTICE MINGLE, A JOURNALIST
There are a number of factors which could perhaps have accounted for this mishap notable among them are the Executive's failure to secure victory for the NPP in the December 2012 general election.
Also was the decision to challenge the election results in court when the executive knew perfectly well they could not be successful. The election petition which dragged for about eight months impacted negatively on the national economy as investors kept a wait and see posture.
The Tamale Conference if for nothing at all has succeeded in removing the tag on the NPP as an Akan party. As a strategy the party decided to hold its National Delegates Conference in the North to win back or retain the confidence of party faithful and floating voters in that part of the country.
The election results have ensured regional balance on the National Executive as almost all tribes are now represented. Paul Afoko the new National Chairman deserves tons of commendation for his resilient spirit. He emerged victorious despites several machinations to frustrate him out of the race.
In a way, this perhaps also gave him sympathy votes.
Incumbent Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey deserves no tears for performing so abysmally in the race garnering only 66 votes as against Paul Afoko's 2,034. Some Analysts believe it was a pay back time for Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey, for purchasing a State Bungalow he stayed in whilst a
Minister.
Also deserving loud applause is the new General Secretary, Kwabena Adjei-Agyepong who a few days to the Conference had a near-fatal accident while on his campaign which most people thought will take him out of the race given the state of his vehicle after the accident.
Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, the out gone General Secretary must today be licking his wounds for his indiscretion in coming out openly to express support for the party's 2012 flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo when nominations are yet to re-open.
His vituperation against the Supreme Court Judges which landed him with a fine escaping custodial sentence by the skin's breath could also be cited. The emergence of firebrands like Sammy Awuku and John Boadu on the National Executive is likely to give party supporters a ray of hope. Smooth-talking Sammy Awuku had a brush with the law during the Supreme Court hearing of the 2012
election petition which sent him spending several weeks in jail.
As things stand now, the NPP has been reinvigorated as the party is believed to have jumped a major hurdle which positions it strategically and poised to wrest power from the ruling NDC in the 2016 general election.
This however will be a herculean task if the party does not close its ranks to wage the war with a united
front. The shooting of nine supporters of the party at Aboabo a suburb of Tamale by unidentified gunmen is most unfortunate and the perpetrators must bow their heads in shame.
It is regrettable the Police are yet to make an arrest several days after the incident. Generally the successful and peaceful conduct of the conference is indicative of the NPP's resolve to be strategically different in election 2016. It is hoped the vim and enthusiasm exhibited by party supporters in Tamale will be carried over to the election of the flagbearer.
It is too early yet to determine where the party's choice of flagbearer will go but a local proverb says a busy market is determined the previous day. If the present crop of elected leaders have any influence on the choice of flagbearer then we need to brace ourselves for a major challenge.
We say Ayekoo to the NPP for a conference well organised and to the new officers a successful term of office. To the losers we say better luck next time.
BY JUSTICE MINGLE, A JOURNALIST
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