NPP Not An Elitist Party � Prof. Ocquaye

A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Prof. Michael Ocquaye, has debunked assertions that the NPP is an elitist party. Reacting to the wide held perception of the party being elitist, he said: �what kind of elitism are people talking about? When we won in 1962, 1969, where was the elitism in the party?� There have been perceptions about elitism in the NPP and that it could be hindering it from winning elections in most of the Zongo communities, but Prof. Ocquaye disagrees. According to him, the National Democratic Congress ahead of the 2012 elections spread false rumours about the NPP in the Volta and Northern regions among others. Speaking on Eyewitness News, Prof. Oquaye stated that, �former President Rawlings went about telling the Northerners that we [NPP] hated them, we killed the chief and that they should vote for them so they would come and expose us. They voted for them, but where is the tape, where is the evidence that the former president has said existed.� He indicated that the party will reclaim its image by clearing all doubts held by regions that have been polluted by the NDC�s propaganda machinery. �We will simply go and tell people the truth and we will simply tell the truth,� he said. Meanwhile, the newly elected General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyapong says the party will re-brand and position for power in 2016. �We intend reconnecting with people. The NPP is a truly national party, but we will try and develop attractive messages and appeal to people to ensure victory,� he added.