Leading NPP Members Call For Electoral College Expansion

Some leading figures in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region are pushing for further expansion of the party�s electoral college to enable more members to participate in its decision making process. They want every card-bearing member in good standing to be allowed to vote in the election of officials at all levels of the party. Professor Agyei Barwuah, former Ghana Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, ex-Chief Executive of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and Mr George Ayisi-Boateng, Founder Member of the NPP, are among those agitating for the expansion. They insist it would bring about transparency and reduce the influence of money. Prof Barwuah said this was the path to travel to pick the right people, who are dedicated, hardworking and committed at the polling station, branch and constituency, regional and national levels. �The party is at the crossroads and it needs hardworking and committed leaders to bring all members to work together to win elections for the party. The challenge now is to change the mindset of our members and help them to appreciate that it is only hard work, commitment and dedication that will win us power�, he said. He denounced the situation where some of them were doing everything to put certain people in leadership positions just because they have money but not necessarily about their proven record of service, leadership qualities and commitment, warning that this could be a sure recipe for disaster in 2016. Prof Barwuah, who contested for the flag-bearer position of the party in 2007, said revelations at the election petition hearing should be enough motivation to re-orient and reposition the party firmly at the polling station levels. �It is sad that the party is ripping itself apart at a time that Ghanaians need it the most to re-organize effectively to wrest political power and change the economic situation of the people,� he said. He said given the enormous resources and opportunities in the country, Ghanaians should not be suffering - they deserved better than what they were getting. Dr Asare criticized what he said had been the imposition of people on party due to �money influence�, something that needed to change. He said things must be done in such a way that �the real loyal and hard working party members� are encouraged to take up more frontline role. This is the way to win political power. Mr. George Ayisi Boateng said it was important to uphold best practices and values that had kept the NPP going.