The New Patriotic Party (NPP) rose from a three-day retreat in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital with the confidence to recapture power from the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the November 7 polls.
The party says it is ready to give hope to Ghanaians by clearing the mess created by the NDC.
The retreat organised by the Minority Caucus in Parliament brought together the party’s leadership including the flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, all the party’s parliamentary candidates as well as national campaign coordinators and regional executives. The meeting was also geared at soliciting inputs into the party’s 2016 manifesto as well as plans to capture political power and secure more seats in parliament in the upcoming polls.
The Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, addressing the media after the programme on Sunday, said the meeting, while motivating the party leadership for the 2016 polls, afforded MPs an opportunity to fashion out ways of neutralising the impact of the Majority in parliament.
“We have interacted, we have dealt with who we are, where we are coming from, the history of our tradition, and we have taken stock of previous elections,” he stated, adding that: “We have shared ideas and how we are going to prosecute our campaign towards November or December 2016.”
“We are not the national executives or decision making body of the party, and we are very conscious of that. We have created a platform, all people have been here. We can make suggestions, we share ideas, but when it comes to taking decisions, the appropriate bodies are there. It goes through the Steering Committee, National Executives, and if necessary the National Council,” he said.
He added that the party manifesto and policy advisors came to give highlights on the manifesto and of course, sought ideas from members too.
“We have committees, [and] regional campaign teams are going to be contacted, individuals are going to be contacted …to get ideas from across board to make sure we enrich our manifesto.”
Mr Kyei Mensah Bonsu, said the party drafted a manifesto that will serve as direct remedy to challenges facing Ghanaians.
He stated that, issues discussed encapsulated analysis of by-elections that have been organized after the 2012 general elections.
The Minority Leader also mentioned that, the retreat also reviewed performance of the minority in Parliament; assess the challenges and give recommendations to surmount the challenges.
In his contribution, the MP for Okere, Daniel Botwe indicated that the NPP will launch its manifesto soon, assuring Ghanaians to remain calm and expect a better manifesto from the party.
Mr Botwe, a former General Secretary of the party and the Campaign Strategist for the NPP 2016 campaign team noted that in previous years, competing political parties adopted key policies in the NPP’s manifesto and so the party will need to be meticulous in the timing of releasing its manifesto.
Mr. Botwe also talked about the harsh economic conditions in the country and said it is the NPP which is capable of breaking the chain of hardship that has gripped Ghanaians.
He added the NPP has a good track record of developing the country as they did in the Kufuor administration and he accordingly entreated the electorate to vote massively for the NPP to restore investor confidence in the country.
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