The 2012 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on the newly elected regional executives of the party to engage their members in eliminating internal squabbling that could undermine the party’s chances in the 2016 elections.
He said in order for the NPP to make a strong showing and win the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2016, there was the need for the executives to address any form of differences that would negatively affect the party’s wellbeing.
Nana Akufo-Addo made the call on Thursday when regional executives of three regions paid a courtesy call on him at his Nima residence in Accra.
The executives were from the Central, Western and Upper East regions. They included the newly elected chairmen, constituency executives and organisers.
Also present at the occasion was the running mate of Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Internal squabbling
The purpose of the visit was for the newly elected regional executives to introduce themselves to Nana Akufo-Addo and also to welcome him back after his six months’ stay in the United Kingdom.
During the interactions, the issue of internal squabbling came up as the major problem that hindered the party from winning the 2008 and 2012 general elections in the country.
According to the chairmen, Mr Robert Kutin, Mr Dickson Atta Nketsiah and Mr Mahama Adams, from the Central, Western and Upper East regions respectively, most of the members in the party had issues with each other and were not willing to work as a team for the forward movement of the party.
They said the NPP could have easily won the 2008 and 2012 elections if party members had put away their differences and worked together as one unified force.
The three chairmen, however, assured Nana Akufo-Addo of their unflinching commitment and support should he decide to contest for the 2016 elections.
Ensure peace in the party
Nana Akufo-Addo observed that although he was yet to declare his intentions to the party members, it would be to the advantage of the newly elected executives to join forces to address any challenges confronting the party members.
“Peace in the party and among members is what we need. We must all know that we are working for the same goal and objective and that it would not benefit anybody if we allow individual differences to run the party down,” he said.
Nana Akufo-Addo congratulated the newly elected regional executives on their commitment to ensuring the progress of the NPP. He also thanked the members for their support towards the party and himself during the 2014 elections and during his stay in the UK.