The Association of Founding Fathers and Patrons of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region has kicked against proposed changes to the party’s constitution.
It warned that some of the amendments being advocated are problematic and could create trouble for the party.
At a press conference addressed by its Chairman, Kofi Obiri Yeboah, in Kumasi, the association made reference to the suggestion that Members of Parliament (MPs)/parliamentary candidates (PCs) are allowed to appoint constituency and polling station officers, describing this proposal as outrageous.
This proposal, alongside that of making the MP or PC the executive head of the party at the constituency level, they said, should be shelved.
They added that the party had come too far “to throw democracy to the dogs.”
The founding fathers pointed out that the NPP had through the decades survived because of its adherence to time-tested democratic principles and practices.
“Take these away and the party will slump – become deflated and be blown away like many political parties that have often popped up on the Ghanaian political scene,” they noted.
The constitutional changes had been planned to be discussed at the party’s 25th annual delegates’ conference held recently in Cape Coast, the Central Regional capital, but was put on hold due to time constraint.
Mr. Yeboah said they fully backed the position of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that the party expands its electoral base.
He said they wanted to see all card-bearing and/or recognized members of good standing become eligible to vote at all levels of the party – national, regional, constituency and polling station elections.
This, he noted, is the way forward to prevent corruption and confusion that tend to characterize internal elections of the political parties.
He called for the compilation of a voter register at every level of the party by a special committee outside the executives.
Mr Yeboah underlined the founding fathers’ determination to give their all to ensure the successful implementation of the government’s development agenda – to transform the lives of Ghanaians.
Source: GNA
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NPP TODAY IS IN GOOD SHAPE BECAUSE IT UPHOLDS GOOD DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES. AND NDC LOST MISERABLY BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT, MINISTERS AND NDC MPS ASSUME ABSOLUTE POWERS TO BECOME VERY CORRUPT. ONE MAY ARGUE THAT A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND THE PRESIDENT IS THE HEAD OF THE PARTY AND THAT MP AND PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE SHOULD BECOME THE HEAD OF THE PARTY AT THE CONSTITUENCY. IT IS GOOD WE DONT CONFUSED MANGOES WITH ORANGES. THE TWO OFFICES ARE NOT THE SAME. THOUGH THERE MAY BE PROBLEMS WITH SOME PARTY CHAIRMEN WITH MPs OR PCs THE PROBLEM WOULD BE WORST WHEN WE CONCENTRATE ALL THE POWERS IN THE CONSTITUENCY IN THE MPs AND PCs. SUCH A MOVE WOULD DISMANTLE THE GRASSROOT FROM THE PARTY. PARTY CHAIRMEN AND CONSTITUENCY OFFICERS ARE MORE ROOTED IN MOST CASES TO THE GRASSROOT THAN THE MPs. MPs AND PCs SHOULD RATHER LEARN TO WORK WITH PARTY CHAIRMEN AND MACHINERY. FAILURE TO DO SO REVEAL THE INCOMPETENCE OF SUCH CANDIDATES. NPP SHOULD NOT THEREFORE DO ANYTHING TO JEOPARDIZE THE GOOD SHAPE OF THE PARTY THAT ENABLED IT TO WIN POWER. THEY SHOULD RATHER STRENGTHEN THE STRUCTURES OF THE PARTY FOR SOLID SUCCESS.
I really don't know why Wontumi is leading this stupidd proposal for change in NPP constitution to allow him entrench himself to stray as regional Chairman. Some Sillly MPs are also pushing for this idea Crazzy stupidd idea to enable them stand unopposed or prevent all Ghanaians abroad from contesting them. These mediocre MPs should understand that those in abroad also contribute immensely to the happenings in Ghana politic and development and any attempt to prevent NPP members in overseas from contesting in the primaries for the MP position will not end well for the party. Wontumi should stop leading that stupidd idiotricc proposals, else we will all support his like contender Kokofu to beat him very well. ***barred word*** kwa.