<<Print>>

THE NEW Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday opened its annual international conference in the German port city of Hamburg, with representatives from the overseas branches of the party in attendance. The three-day conference is under the theme, �Recapture Power in 2012� and it is being chaired by the National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, 2012 NPP Presidential Candidate, and General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, popularly called Sir John, also attending. Other NPP dignitaries present are Yaw Osafo Maafo, former Finance and Education Minister, Alhaji Moctar Bamba, National Organiser, Otiko Afisa Djaba, National Women�s Organiser, Ambrose Dery, deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, MP for New Juabeng North, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin North and all the ten regional chairmen of the party, among a host of others. The purpose of the conference is to map out strategies for election 2012. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey commended the delegates for their spirit of sacrifice and dedication. According to the NPP chairman, the party was determined to recapture power and therefore all hands should be on deck. Indeed �All Hands On Deck� is the sub-theme for the conference. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey said the conference was important for the sharing of ideas on the way forward in consolidating the party towards gaining electoral power. Nana Akufo-Addo will deliver the keynote address today on the vision of the party ahead of the 2012 elections. Dwamena-Yeboah, Chairman of the NPP Germany branch, welcomed delegates, urging them to work hard to return the party to power. The Chairman of NPP Holland branch, Kobby Annan, who led delegates on how to raise funds for campaign, said the party should explore other avenues apart from the traditional dinner dance. The NPP delegation visited the masterpiece Hamburg Parliament House (B�rgerschaft) yesterday, an edifice with an imposing architectural touch spanning over 140 years.