We refer to The Chronicle�s front page story of Tuesday, 5th January 2010, on issues relating to the ongoing party officers elections. We comment as follows:
In August 2009, the NPP made fundamental changes to our constitution to empower our grassroots and to give them more say in critical decision-making processes within the party. Subsequently, we have successfully conducted elections across the entire country to elect our party officers, from the polling station to the national level.
So far, a total of 110,758 different internal elections have been successfully held. The conduct of the Ashanti Regional executive elections and the national executive elections would generally complete the current set of party executive elections.
Article 7 Subsection 13 of the NPP Constitution requires the conduct of the National Annual Delegates Conference to happen four clear weeks after the regional delegates conferences.
The 6th February 2010 date fixed for the next National Delegates conference was part of a time-table that concluded the regional delegates conferences four clear weeks before this date. Should it become necessary, the National Council that fixed this date would revise it to make it compliant with the above provision.
It is not clear why anybody would want to go to court on this matter. As part of the party�s long-standing administrative procedures, each regional party is assigned a national executive who helps administer the party in that region.
The National officer in charge of the Ashanti Region is Ms Rita Asobayire, the National Women�s Organiser. The role of Ms Asobayire in the resolution of many of the difficulties in the Ashanti has been most commendable, and the party is grateful to her for her efforts.
As part of efforts to ensure that the time-table for the conduct of the regional and national executive elections was adhered to, the National Executive Committee decided to send a special team to the Ashanti Region to help resolve the outstanding issues there.
The party chairman has been in the region in furtherance of that NEC decision. The mediation work of the special committee is being coordinated by no mean a person than Lawyer Kwame Boafo. That exercise has been very successful with many cases settled out of court.
This effort must be supported by all party members to maintain the integrity of the ongoing reforms and preserve the reputation of the New Patriotic Party as the real custodians and champions of Ghana�s democratic culture.
Party members are encouraged to freely express their views in matters relating to party organisation. It is however important that we all get ourselves properly informed about our constitution and developments in the party so that we may present the NPP in the best possible light.
Sack Opoku Manu & Prosecute Him
The call by the Ashanti Regional Minister and Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Security Council, Mr. Kofi Poku Manu, inciting NDC activists to beat up political opponents is criminal, dangerous and morally reprehensible. It must attract the severest of sanctions.
As a Minister of State, he has responsibility to protect the peace of this country and to be an example to others, especially the youth. In particular, as the Chairman of the Regional Security Council, his primary concern should be about the peace of every citizen irrespective of their political views.
To incite NDC party faithful to break the law and visit violence on innocent citizens simply because they have different political views is an irresponsible behaviour by the Chairman of the Regional Security Council that must never go unpunished.
The spate of violent attacks on innocent citizens by NDC activists since the NDC assumed office in January 2009 is a product of a culture of violence sponsored by such wicked and reckless political leaders.
The President must identify with the sentiments of the public and remove Mr. Kofi Poku Manu from office without any delay. There is a burden on President John Evans Atta Mills to prove that he does support and has the courage to check the use of violent methods in political discourse by his appointees.
The police must also take up this issue and arrest Mr. Kofi Poku Manu for immediate prosecution. It would be bad signal to the public if the police allow such high profile incitement to violence to go unpunished. It would undermine confidence in the police and weaken their ability to deal with wanton violence committed by ordinary people in the street. The police must act on this matter now.
Source: Kwaku Kwarteng/Communications Director
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