Congress proves NPP democratic credentials •Says two leading members

TWO leading members of New Patriotic Party (NPP) have stated that the peaceful, transparent and free manner in which the party organised the special delegates congress had re-emphasised the party’s democratic credentials.
They said the interest shown by the aspirants, delegates and the entire membership of the party during the elections had also proven the sceptics who were of the view that allowing the grassroots members of the party would result in chaos and affect the unity of the party wrong.
The Chairman of the Vetting Committee, Mr Samuel Odoi-Sykes, and a former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Peter Mac Manu, stated this in an interview with the Daily Graphic .
Mr Mac Manu said after the party’s loss in the 2008 election, a team was sent round the country to ascertain, from the members of the party, what might have caused the defeat.
He said it came out clear that the party members, who were the real owners of the NPP, wanted to have a greater say in who would lead them at anytime and that they abhor the situation where some few people gathered and impose their decision on the general.
“What great leaders like Mr Peter Ala Adjetey spearheaded and which was accepted overwhelmingly by the congress had started bearing fruits,” Mr Mac Manu.
He commended the delegates who voted throughout the 229 polling centres throughout the country for vindicating the party’s decision to expand the electoral college.
Mr Mac Manu under whose chairmanship the party undertook a wide range of review of its constitution, including the expanded delegates lists for voting, said this was the first move towards ensuring that the opportunity was given to all card-bearing members to have a say in who leads them.
He stated that NDC was a slow but poor government leading the country into despair, mis-managing national resources and fumbling with national development.
He also recommended to all Ghanaians to follow the exhibition of the NPP and rally behind them for being the pacesetters of democracy in the country.
Mr Odoi-Sykes, who was the party’s supervisor at the Odododiodoo polling centre, said the orderly, peaceful and co-operative manner in which the party members organised themselves in the election had boosted the party’s chances of winning the 2012 election.
“ I am particularly happy and grateful to the party members, because Odododiodoo is not noted for peaceful elections over the years and for our members to comport themselves in such a manner shows their growing sense of democracy,” he said.
He said even delegates who did not come with identity were allowed to vote, provided they had their name on the list, because the polling agents of the various candidates made reason prevail.
He urged the party members to remain united and rally behind the elected candidate and use the occasion as the beginning of a sustained campaign towards winning the 2012 election.