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Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu, a former Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South, has declared his intention to contest for the position of the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party when nominations are opened. Confirming his intention to the Daily Graphic, he said he was in the race to turn the fortunes of the party. In an interview, Mr Balado Manu promised, �I will promote the fortune of the NPP in the 2016 elections, if I am given the opportunity by the delegates to serve as the party�s General Secretary.� Besides his competence, he extolled his virtues as a unifier, easily approachable, a good mixer and listener, which, in his opinion, were essential rare qualities needed to turn the fortune of the party as well as attract the needed votes. Floating voters According to Mr Balado Manu, for a party to win power, it must win floating voters to its side. �This is what I think Ghanaians will want to see a General Secretary do for his political party; a person who speaks to cool down tempers and win broad support for his party. �As a General Secretary, I would see myself more of a blessing, and promote the party�s interest. �I am convinced that the party has done enough for me and I want to serve it in humility, truth and with integrity, as a way of saying thank you,� he stated. He explained that the party adopted him as candidate for Ahafo Ano South in the Ashanti Region, and was in Parliament for 16 years and through that became a member of the ECOWAS Parliament for 14 years. The NPP, he also said, sponsored him to Germany where he was trained in political party organisation. �With all these experiences gained by virtue of being a member of the NPP, I think the time is ripe to give back to the party by becoming the General Secretary,� he said. He said as a good listener and a multi-lingual, he was prepared to accommodate anybody with suggestions or problems and seeking solutions. �I, therefore, see myself as someone who, if given the opportunity as the General Secretary of my party, will make the party more attractive to party members and floating voters,� he said. Winning votes in two regions He said because the party had not strategised well and lacked unity, it was finding it difficult to win more regions during elections. �In the 2012 election, the NPP managed to win two - Ashanti and Eastern - out of 10 regions,� he recalled and pointed out that it was absolute unity and common purpose that could help the party recapture power as it did in 2000 and 2004. If we have unity and common purpose and work strenuously, we are likely to win 2016, he stated, and, therefore, cautioned members of the NPP to bury internal differences and look at the party as their common institution. �My advice for the party rank and file is to work as a formidable united party to attract the needed votes�. �The unity has not been good. We need absolute unity to recapture power; that power is what we want in 2016 and when we win power, we will all achieve our aim,� he stated. In his view, a house, which was divided, could not stand the test of time. NPP NEC meeting He described the outcome of the National Executive Committee meeting of the party as a good omen, because it had the support of the grass roots. He said that the grass-roots support was the foundation for the party, saying they would now feel more comfortable working for the party as well as promoting unity. �Now that the road map for election 2016 has been spelt out by the leadership of the party and the furore within the party has died down, we should work and sustain the prevailing unity.�