NPP 2016 Victory Rests On Polling Stations

Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh, one of the three shortlisted aspirants in the just-ended presidential primary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said without effective and efficient discharge of responsibilities at the polling station level, it will be difficult for the NPP to win political power in 2016. In his view, it is imperative for the party to ensure both the bottom up and the top down homogeneity within the party to secure decisive political power in 2016. He argues that the nucleus of the NPP was at the polling station level where the party had its mass grassroots members and every effort must be made to mobilise, organise and support them to be effective and functional. The Asante Mampong legislator granted the Daily Graphic an exclusive interview in which he spoke about his experiences in the primary; political outlook, future role in the NPP, as well as that of his constituency. Mr Addai-Nimoh pointed out that he had no regret for contesting the party�s primary with established names � Nana Akufo-Addo and Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen. He described the successful outcome of the primary as a clarion call for enhanced unity within the party from the top to the bottom and also asserted that the result of the primary, in which Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was overwhelmingly endorsed by the over 120,000 delegates across the country as the party�s standard bearer for the 2016 Election, had galvanised the grassroots and positioned the party to wrest political power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Clarion call He said that the clarion call was to ensure enhanced unity among members of the NPP from the top echelon to the polling station. He said for this to become a reality, party members and supporters must do away with suspicion and mistrust and allow fairness and transparency to prevail in their activities at all levels. �If we allow such elements to take place in our daily activities , it will promote and enhance unity for victory in the 2016 Election,� he stated. Role in party Commenting on his role in the party after the primary, he said he remained committed and resolute and would work diligently for the party to win power. On the 2016 NPP presidential campaign, Mr Addai Nimoh stated that his involvement would be at the national and constituency levels, and that at the national level, he was hoping to avail himself and support the communication strategy, resource mobilisation and ground operations of the party. �I will also be active and proactive particularly with the ground operations engaging the footsoldiers, student body, labour organisations, religious and traditional authorities and sensitise them to the values and vision of the NPP and the need for change in the 2016 polls,� he stated. NPP Chances in 2016 Mr Addai-Nimoh said he shared the �Tamale Declaration� of the party�s national chairman, Mr Paul Afoko, that members of the party should prepare themselves to take over the reins of government in 2017. He said in the 4th Republic, the NDC under Rawlings was the first to come into government for eight years, followed by NPP under Kufuor for another eight years and followed by NDC under a combination of the late President Mills and current President Mahama whose eight year tenure would end in 2016. �So by that logical conclusion, 2016 is the time for the NPP to prepare for government and come into power in January 2017,� he stated. He, however, pointed out that �when it is your time you have to get prepared, position yourselves and in readiness for that change.� Challenges of primary Sharing his joys and pains with regards to the just ended primary, he declared �I look into the future with no regret at all for taking that bold step in seeking the flag bearer position of the NPP.� He said he had based his faith on three pillars that life was created simple and it is important to leave it as such. One should also acknowledge that to take risk and fail is not a failure; real failure is to fear taking any risk at all. He concluded by saying that �Competition always makes you stronger and better. It is feared only by the weak.�� So from these ��I feel refreshed, better, motivated and stronger and I have overcome the fear of taking risks,� he stated. Mr Addai-Nimoh descr�ibed his performance in the primary as overwhelming because he received admiration and encouraging responses even though that did not translate into votes. He said, due to time constraints he could not visit all the constituencies in the regions. He stated that apart from the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Upper East, Upper West and the Northern regions where he met the executives, he could not visit the Western, Central, Eastern and the Volta regions but had ground operational teams in those regions that campaigned for him. Going into future He disclosed that �if the opportunity avails itself and there is life and strength I will not hesitate to put myself up to be considered the flag bearer of the NPP by delegates in future national elections.� He also commended his wife and children, the extended family, friends and all those who supported him during his campaign for flag bearer of the NPP��.