Pay Back Time For Jake And Co

The voting out of all incumbent National Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), except Otiko Djaba, in last Saturday�s National Delegates� Conference can be likened to the Biblical text in Galatians 6:7, which reads: �Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.� The delegates have sent a clear message to the losing candidates that they cannot be deceived. The Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey executives came to power through a vicious campaign against the Peter Mac Manu-led administration, accusing them of not doing enough to win power in the 2008 elections. The Obetsebi-Lamptey administration promised to win power for the NPP should the delegates give them the mandate in 2010 to lead the party, and the delegates did just that. The viciousness of the change message, focused on the NPP�s inability to win Election 2008, forced some of the then incumbents, such as Chairman Peter Mac Manu, not to seek re-election. Those who did not see it coming sought re-election but were humiliated. In the 2008 general elections, a runoff on December 28 was between Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP) and John Atta Mills (NDC), who respectively got 49.13% and 47.92% of the votes on December 7. The second round was conducted on December 28, 2008 with the exception of the Tain constituency, for which voting took place on January 2, 2009. The final outcome of this run-off election resulted in the declaration that the President-elect is John Atta Mills, with 4,521,032 votes representing 50.23% of the votes, while Nana Akufo-Addo received a total of 4,480,446 votes, representing 49.77%. The message of change by the Obetsebi-Lamptey-led executives was anchored on the fact that for John Atta Mills to move from 47.92% and overtake Nana Akufo-Addo at 49.77% to win was unacceptable. Despite promising victory, the Jake Obetsebi-led administration lost heavily to the NDC in 2012, reducing Nana Akufo-Addo�s 49.77% in 2008 to 47.74% in 2012. The delegates who are hungry for power, therefore, punished the Obetsebi Lamptey administration for failing to deliver the promised victory and reducing the NPP�s total percentage. The Paul Afoko-led administration should know that their mandate can only be renewed if they win the 2016 general elections. After the votes were counted, MrAfoko was elected National Chairman of the NPP at its 16th National Delegates� Conference held in Tamale on Saturday. The results as announced early yesterday morning by Mr Samuel Tetteh, Director of Elections of the Electoral Commission, indicated that Mr Afoko polled 2,034 to beat his closest rival, Mr Stephen Ntim, who polled 1,503. Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, incumbent National Chairman, polled 66 while Mr Fred Oware, another contestant, polled 1,135. Mr Kwabena Agyepong obtained 2,529 votes to win the position of General Secretary, beating Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, the incumbent General Secretary, who had 1,990 votes. Other National Executives elected were Mr Freddie Blay, First National Vice-Chairperson; Mr Sammy Crabbe, Second National Vice-Chairperson; and Mr Frederick Anto, Third National Vice-Chairperson. The rest are Mr John Boadu, National Youth Organiser; Mr Sammy Awuku, National Youth Organiser, Madam Otiko Djaba, Women�s Organiser, Mr Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah, Treasurer; and Mr Kamal Deen Abdulai, National Nasara Co-ordinator. In his acceptance speech, MrAfoko urged members of the party to support the new executives to work towards victory in 2016. MrNtim, who spoke on behalf of all the contestants, described the election as a victory for the party. Shortly after the official declaration of poll results, the new executives were sworn into office by Mr Ayikoi Otoo, member of the NPP legal team.