The Patriotic Future of NPP, a pressure group within the New Patriotic Party has called on the National Executive Committee of the party to reject the proposal authored by Mr. Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey, National Chairman, describing it as unconstitutional.
It also called on the Committee to mandate the present executives to account for all the campaign funds the party received for the 2012 general elections.
The group further called on all party members to also reject what it described as the �ill-intent� proposal and maintain the bottom up approach of selecting leaders to run the affairs of the party.
�We are tired of the machinations by Jake and Sir John, and we are by this statement sending a strong warning to them to put a stop to their acts that have the sole aim of sinking this great party further into opposition. We lost the 2012 elections simply because of selfish and sluggish leadership of Jake and Sir John�. The group said.
According to the group, the incompetence of the National Chairman and the General Secretary is amplified in paragraph 18 of Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey�s proposal which states that �After the primaries, the services of talented people who ran on a losing slate are denied to the party.
All hands on deck remain a dream as some of such people refuse to come forward and others are refused space in the inner circle of the campaign.� This admission by Jake Obetesi Lamptey should inform all and sundry that, he has failed the party and must give way to new and progressive leadership�.
�The proposal before the National Executive Committee (NEC) which was apparently authored by Chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey clearly goes against the New Patriotic Party�s Constitution. Reference to articles 6 and 9 clearly state that elected officers shall have a mandate of 4 years and the only body with the authorization to change this constitutional provision is the National Delegates Conference� it explained.
The group noted further that �We of the Patriotic Future of NPP believe that, the focus of the outgoing National party Executives should be on identifying the reasons why we lost the 2008 election only by about 38,000 votes but 2012 election by more than 325,000 votes indicating a whopping 750%�.
It sought answers to the involvement of the Polling Station Executives in the last campaign who Jake believes were the cause of our 2012 electoral defeat?
�Where is the Polling Agents� allowance? As we speak, many of our polling agents have not received their responsibility allowance in the last election. These same Polling Station Executives have been inflicted and denigrated with more pain by accusing them of being responsible for our defeat in the 2012 elections. The situation is bad and clearly exposes our current leadership as insensitive and a clear case of losing touch with the grassroots of the party�. The group voiced out.
According to Patriotic Future the New Patriotic Party is a democratic party built on the principles of choice, competition, fairness and equity which must be allowed at all times to go through a competitive election process.
�The recent brouhaha that has emanated from the discussions of the proposal by the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party is a great concern to us. A competitively organized electoral process in our view will bring out the best talents that will drive the party�s victory agenda forward. The real challenges facing our great party must be addressed using sustainable strategies devoid of self-centered and parochial objectives. As a group, we wish to find answers to these mind boggling questions,� it said.
The group further demanded that the present executive be made to account for the GH�16,000.00 paid by each parliamentary candidate aspirants. Revenue from the dues, text messages and the strong membership drive (Printing of Cards) and the campaign funds raised by the party during the electioneering campaign that were meant for polling station organization.
The group is therefore calling on the National Executive Committee to ensure that all internal party elections from Polling Station, Constituency, Region and National officers follow the constitutional provisions of the party; it also called on the committee to encourage consensus building and broader consultations among all party stakeholders on critical proposals as well as auditing of the outgoing National Officers by a neutral body set up by a yet to be elected National Executive Committee;
According to Patriotic Future the proposal authored by Jake Obetsebi Lamptey has started creating tension and division among the rank and file of the party.� We therefore call on National Council of Elders, National Council of Patrons and H.E. President Kufuor to halt further discussions on the proposal at any forum of the party in order to promote greater unity.
�We are using this opportunity to call on all Executives and members of the party to rise and protect our great tradition. As part of our commitment to our beloved party, the members of this group will use all means possible to stop the implementation of this unconstitutional proposal. NPP must be built around the ideology of free enterprise and prosperity for all but not around individuals� the group stated.
It noted further that �The current proposals if made to stand will mean that we will have national executive officers for life and MPs for life. How sad that the party that is touted for its democratic credentials should now be seen wearing the cloak of dictatorship. Now is the time for all well-meaning members of the party, to stand up and be counted. No longer should they keep quiet and allow a minority to dictate to the course of the party. The party belongs to all members and the views of its members must be made to count. Not just that of a few who only led us to defeat in the past�.
�The ideal situation for 2016 since we are facing a critical election would be to return them unopposed perhaps after consensus, not before consensus and not to impose anything on the party because if you try to impose such a solution on the party you will have in almost every constituency independent candidates.�
The statement said
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