The New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a liberal mass democratic institution is solid on the ground, active and progressing by the day, the National Chairman of the party , Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey, has assured.
In an interview to mark the party's 21st anniversary which fell last week Thursday, he told the Daily Graphic at the weekend that "People are talking as if there is nothing at stake. Yet, it is the same party that was able to put together 24,000 pink sheets to contest the 2012 election irregularities;. We have a party solid on the ground and we should not give any negative impression."
The state of the NPP is solid he declared and pointed out that the party had strong structures.
Rather, he enjoined the rank and file of the party " to look at both the strength and weakness of the party and look at how we can strengthen the weak ones."
Leading Members
He called on those who call themselves leading members of the party to begin working at the grassroots and constituency levels to further strenghten the party's structures.
"I am, therefore, calling on every true supporter of the party to come and offer support," he said, adding that "we don't build a party by word of mouth or rhetorics only."
In his view, nothing was perfect; everything could be improved, insisting that the best way was to put shoulders behind the wheel and get involved in the work in progress.
As a way forward, the NPP chairman said "we are making sure that we deepen our understanding of the party's philosophy that Ghanaians, including NPP members, realise that the NPP stands for a set of ideals that are not framed by tribe, religion or sex, but framed by our common humanity and an inborn drive of the human being to improve his or her lot in life."
''As we teach that and share that vision we will be able to overcome some of the historical challenges we face'', he stressed.
He explained that where there was less action, that was where the party was weak.
NPP Congress
On when the party will go for its next national delegates congress, he mentioned March 2014.
"We have time to do it. We will meet whatever deadlines," he assured but pointed out that "now the focus is on what the Supreme Court will say. We have a calender of activities we are following before we organise internal elections and so we do not run the risk of creating some disaffection and disunity."
NPP Traditions
Since 1947, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said, the NPP tradition had shown commitment to a fully functioning democracy, especially against the backdrop of the fact that regular elections were major part of a functioning democracy.
In so doing, he said, other institutions which need to be developed and strengthened alongside include the judiciary, police, Electoral Commission etc.
By going to court, he said that the NPP was hoping to strengthen the judiciary, EC and democracy in Ghana as well as to help project Ghana as an investment friendly destination.
It will also strengthen the Electoral Commission saying "a bad referee spoils a good match".
If we have an EC that the electorates and political parties have faith in, it would enhance our democracy, he stated.
Mr Obetsebi Lamptey said over the years, the NPP had demonstrated its commitment to the deepening of democracy and "we should be applauded for that."
In his view, many of the actions taken by the party, Ghana had been the major beneficiary.
Call for peace
All these calls for peace, I believe will not be that necessary. We are a peaceful country and we need to avoid tearing our nation apart, Mr Lamptey stated.
Led by the media, we are drumming up peace as a major challenge in this country, he pointed out.
In his view, people supposed to be in charge of security are not necessarily supposed to do all that they are seen doing.
"All these display of military force, moving in and out of the country to show we have huge capacity to inflict pain on our own populace is not good; It does not give the international community any good impression and image of the country.
We should not be surprised when we see the American Embassy and other foreign countries issue travel and visa warnings. By so doing, we are letting the world know that this country is not at peace with itself.
Who do you blame? You have to blame yourself," he told the Daily Graphic.
Source: Daily Graphic
No comments:
Post a Comment