NPP Defeated Parliamentary Aspirants Come Together; Launch 'AU4V'

Parliamentary aspirants who lost in the 2020 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Primaries have come together and formed a movement dubbed ''Aspirants Unite for Victory (AU4V)''.

Aspirants Unite for Victory is a nationwide movement by the aspirants led by the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso constituency, Hon. Kennedy Kwasi Kankam, Member of Parliament for Manhyia North, Collins Owusu Amankwah, former MUSIGA President and Parliamentary aspirant for Asante Akyem South, Bice Osei Kuffour, popularly known as Obour and many others, who all lost in the primaries.

Considering recent post-primaries occurences in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), it's become essential for a deliberate effort by the party to pull all losers together to support the NPP dream. 

About 220 Parliamentary aspirants including 42 sitting Members of Parliament were defeated in the NPP Primaries this year.

The inability of political parties to bring all candidates in internal political contests together usually poses a major threat to the fortunes of the parties.

In order not to fall victim to the political cancer that maturates in the aftermath of political elections, all the defeated Parliamentary aspirants in the NPP have mobilized themselves to support the ''4More'' agenda for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

The AU4V movement is to foster unity among the defeated aspirants and for them to have one voice behind President Nana Akufo-Addo and the ruling New Patriotic Party.

The AU4V members are primarily focused on maintaining all NPP Parliamentary seats as well as winning new constituency seats for the party, and working together to secure a second term for the President.

The group held a grand launch at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel at Labadi in the Greater Accra Region on Monday, September 28, 2020.

Guest Speaker at the launch, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, delivering a speech at the event, commended the aspirants for their selfless decision to rally support for the NPP government.

''I'm very, very happy to be part of this historical event. With you here today, we have a team of dedicated men and women who lost their elections in their bid to serve the party, the constituents and Ghana as Members of Parliament and you have come together to form a movement to support those you lost to in the primaries. As they say, this seldom happens and this is why it has been described as unprecedented. On behalf of His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and on my own behalf, I wish to thank you very much for this great movement you have established.

''Distinguished Patroits, I know some of you lost by just two votes and some by four votes, and many of you under 50 votes. This is as close and agonizing as it can get. You may indeed have every right to grumble but you have said that for the sake of the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party, you will overlook your loss and forge ahead for Victory 2020. This is truly remarkable and my spirit rejoices by just thinking about it''
, the Vice President said.

He promised his office will provide the requisite support for the group to achieve their aim.

''...I wish to say that Aspirants Unite 4 Victory 2020 gives us an added impetus as a great political tradition that understands the nuances of politics and stick to the collective goal of the party no matter how painful the defeat could be. That is why I would like to assure each member of this great movement of my office and the party's commitment for a successful campaign after this launch. As the saying goes 'a house divided against itself' cannot stand...United we stand; divided we fall! Aspirants Unite for Victory is a clear sign that we are a team solidly knitted together for the battle of 2020 which, Isha Allah, we shall win massively through hard work and oneness of purpose.

''This is because we have stayed true to the good people of Ghana by delivering on most of our promises. In fact, per last check, we're almost 80 percent of the promises have either been delivered or we're delivering it. It's quite remarkable for a government in just less than four years in office...and we pray Ghanaians will give us four more years to do more for them. We're grateful that these great and loyal members of our party did not out of the pain of losing choose to go against the party but decided to stick to the collective. This is a good sign and a demonstration of unflinching love for the NPP. I think that our collective interest must at all times override our personal interest. Our love for the party must be even demonstrated more in times of difficulty and not when all is well and rosy because that is easy for anybody to do. Aspirants Unite for Victory 2020 have shown the way and hope that they're given the needed support as they join forces with the national campaign team to help canvass for votes from house-to-house, door-to-door and hamlet-to-hamlet to ensure a decisive and emphatic victory.''

Also speaking to the gathering was the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Ocquaye, who advised the aspirants to uphold the tenets of the NPP and further applauded them for their bold step to unite for victory.

''If anybody should tell you that there have not been situation that are not that palatable such as in any political party, then that person will be talking about the church rather than a political party...One thing that this group must start thinking immediately about is electoral reform'', the Speaker stated.

Present at the event was also the NPP National Organizer, Sammy Awuku who charged the aspirants not to relax their pace in their campaign for the party saying ''in opposition, your strategy is one; just to attack but in government, you defend your record. For me, fighting for re-election is more difficult than fighting from opposition. And that is why we need each and everyone on the NPP ship to make sure we cross the 2020 December 7. Victory will not come on a silver platter and that is why the Vice President and the President, himself, they're leaving no stone unturned and campaigning as if we're in opposition, and that is why our supporters and those of us in this room, I am so happy that you have decided that elections are over; it's time to also go back to our party and make sure that we work''.

The Executive Committee of the AU4V include Kennedy Kwasi Kankam, Covener, Bice Osei Kuffour, Convener, Collins Owusu Amankwa in charge of Operations & Special Duties of  the group, Ablekuma North MP, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, Kojo Frempong who lost at Wenchi as National Organizer of the group, Seth Kwame Acheampong (Mpraeso), Natoional Coordinator, Ato Panford, Business Development and for Media Relations of the AU4V is Ken Kuranchie who lost at Okaikoi North.

Members consist of all the aspirants who lost in the party's primaries.