Page 16, Jan 21, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Juaboso in the Western Region, Mr Sampson Ahi, has stated that the results of the elections of national executives at the 8th national congress held in Tamale had shown that members of the party would always reward dedication and loyalty.
He said the overwhelming support that both Dr Kwabena Adjei and Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah received to continue with their mandate as national chairman and national general secretary respectively was an indication of acceptance of effective and hard work.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic about the outcome of the party’s delegates congress in Tamale last week, Mr Ahi noted that it was also based on the same yardstick that the delegates voted for former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, and Mr Kofi Adams to be part of the national executive.
The party had shown that unity of purpose, coupled with understanding and accommodation of one another’s views, was an important ingredient for a successful organisation of an entity.
Mr Ahi, who is also the Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Children, said the successful congress had deepened internal democracy in the party and put to rest views held by the party’s detractors that the NDC was a violent party.
He, however, urged the new executive to work as a team that was heading towards one goal.
“Our larger interest as a party in power is to work towards retaining power in the 2012 general election,” adding that any activity that would be in contravention with the objective of the party should not be entertained.
On utterances made by some candidates during the campaign for positions in the party, Mr Ahi advised the executives to “let bygones be bygones” and bury their differences.
“We cannot be enemies to our own selves,” he said, advising that the new executive needed to be focused, instead of dwelling on trivialities, which could give its opponents a field day in 2012.
Mr Ahi indicated that members of the party were now poised to retain power and would, therefore, not forgive anyone, through whose actions or inaction the party would miss the chances of retaining power.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Opare-Hammond withdraws from contest
Page 16, Jan 19, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A FORMER Member of Parliament (MP) for Adenta, Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, has withdrawn his bid to contest the National Treasurer position of the New Patriotic Party.
Days after filing his nomination to contest the slot, the former MP told the Daily Graphic that he had withdrawn because of his belief that there was the need to promote regional and gender balance at all levels of the party.
He said it was his conviction that the other contestant for the position, who is a female from the Volta Region, should be given the chance to ensure that the region and females were given the chance to be on the national executive of the party.
Mr Opare-Hammond said it was important for the leadership of the party to take steps to ensure regional and gender balance on the national executive.
He thanked party members who encouraged him to contest the position and assured them that he would continue to use his experience in the service of the party, no matter where he found himself.
On the current political terrain, Mr Opare-Hammond told NPP supporters to intensify their campaign, since Ghanaians were looking forward to the party to salvage the country from the hands of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“We should not do anything for other people or regions to feel that they have been sidelined. Our actions should portray that we are a true national party,” he added.
He said just after one year in office, it had become clear that Ghanaians had regretted voting the NDC into power and were looking up to the NPP to win the 2012 elections.
“Let us, therefore, not be complacent but start making serious preparations towards the 2012 elections to ensure a resounding victory,” Mr Opare-Hammond said.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
A FORMER Member of Parliament (MP) for Adenta, Mr Kwadjo Opare-Hammond, has withdrawn his bid to contest the National Treasurer position of the New Patriotic Party.
Days after filing his nomination to contest the slot, the former MP told the Daily Graphic that he had withdrawn because of his belief that there was the need to promote regional and gender balance at all levels of the party.
He said it was his conviction that the other contestant for the position, who is a female from the Volta Region, should be given the chance to ensure that the region and females were given the chance to be on the national executive of the party.
Mr Opare-Hammond said it was important for the leadership of the party to take steps to ensure regional and gender balance on the national executive.
He thanked party members who encouraged him to contest the position and assured them that he would continue to use his experience in the service of the party, no matter where he found himself.
On the current political terrain, Mr Opare-Hammond told NPP supporters to intensify their campaign, since Ghanaians were looking forward to the party to salvage the country from the hands of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“We should not do anything for other people or regions to feel that they have been sidelined. Our actions should portray that we are a true national party,” he added.
He said just after one year in office, it had become clear that Ghanaians had regretted voting the NDC into power and were looking up to the NPP to win the 2012 elections.
“Let us, therefore, not be complacent but start making serious preparations towards the 2012 elections to ensure a resounding victory,” Mr Opare-Hammond said.
NPP congratulates NDC for successful congress
Page 17, Jan 19, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) has congratulated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on successfully holding its national delegates congress in Tamale at the weekend.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac-Manu, said the peaceful congress indicated how internal democracy was gradually taking root in the NDC.
He said the NPP was also happy to know that portions of the NDC constitutions were amended during the congress to ensure more grass-root participation in the affairs of the NDC.
Mr Mac-Manu noted that such a positive measure was an indication of the steady growth of the country’s fledgling democracy.
Nevertheless, the NPP chairman stated that the NDC should translate the peaceful organisation of its congress into its dealings with other political parties.
He mentioned the utterances of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Poku-Manu, who had encouraged NDC supporters to assault their political opponents.
Mr Mac-Manu asked the leadership of the NDC to call people who thought like Mr Poku-Manu to order to enhance efforts to curb political violence in the country.
He reminded the NDC to be mindful that it would render account of its stewardship to the people after four years in office.
He, therefore, asked the government to work hard “to fix the economy” in order to alleviate the plight of the people.
He said it was unfortunate that after one year in office, the NDC was still blaming the NPP for its slow pace of delivery.
“Ghanaians have given you the mandate to rule the country and they expect you to deliver on your campaign promises. The blame game will not help,” he said.
Mr Mac-Manu indicated that as a responsible opposition, the NPP would always offer constructive criticism to enable Ghanaians to make up their minds on what party they would vote for in 2012.
“We have the responsibility to put the government on its toes. We cannot fail in this assignment,” he said.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) has congratulated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on successfully holding its national delegates congress in Tamale at the weekend.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Peter Mac-Manu, said the peaceful congress indicated how internal democracy was gradually taking root in the NDC.
He said the NPP was also happy to know that portions of the NDC constitutions were amended during the congress to ensure more grass-root participation in the affairs of the NDC.
Mr Mac-Manu noted that such a positive measure was an indication of the steady growth of the country’s fledgling democracy.
Nevertheless, the NPP chairman stated that the NDC should translate the peaceful organisation of its congress into its dealings with other political parties.
He mentioned the utterances of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Poku-Manu, who had encouraged NDC supporters to assault their political opponents.
Mr Mac-Manu asked the leadership of the NDC to call people who thought like Mr Poku-Manu to order to enhance efforts to curb political violence in the country.
He reminded the NDC to be mindful that it would render account of its stewardship to the people after four years in office.
He, therefore, asked the government to work hard “to fix the economy” in order to alleviate the plight of the people.
He said it was unfortunate that after one year in office, the NDC was still blaming the NPP for its slow pace of delivery.
“Ghanaians have given you the mandate to rule the country and they expect you to deliver on your campaign promises. The blame game will not help,” he said.
Mr Mac-Manu indicated that as a responsible opposition, the NPP would always offer constructive criticism to enable Ghanaians to make up their minds on what party they would vote for in 2012.
“We have the responsibility to put the government on its toes. We cannot fail in this assignment,” he said.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
'Provide fishing infrastructure for Ketu'
Page 15, Jan 12, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Anlo, Mr Clement Kofi Humado, has called on the government to extend construction of cold stores, fishing harbours and fish hatcheries to the eastern coastline of the Keta and Ketu South districts.
According to him, provision of these facilities would improve the livelihoods of the fishermen along the coastline of the southern Volta.
The MP was commenting on the 2010 Budget for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Mr Humado noted that the present programme concentrated only on the central and western coastline, and this was a carry-over from the programme of the previous government.
He contends that now that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is in power, there should be a balancing act to ensure that the livelihoods of fishermen along the coastline of the southern Volta are also improved with these facilities.
The MP lamented that the large water body of the Keta-Avu Lagoon, its tributaries and the lower Volta estuaries had not been given the necessary attention that it deserved for marine fishing.
Mr Humado also called on the government to ensure that marine fishermen along the coast of Ghana were protected from the poaching activities of industrial fishing vessels, which illegally fished in the Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) of the Ghana’s territorial waters.
This problem, he said, must be high on the agenda of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in the 2010 Budget and its implementation.
Mr Humado was, however, full of praise for the government for its ability to effectively deal with the premix fuel problem which had almost become a thing of the past.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Anlo, Mr Clement Kofi Humado, has called on the government to extend construction of cold stores, fishing harbours and fish hatcheries to the eastern coastline of the Keta and Ketu South districts.
According to him, provision of these facilities would improve the livelihoods of the fishermen along the coastline of the southern Volta.
The MP was commenting on the 2010 Budget for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
Mr Humado noted that the present programme concentrated only on the central and western coastline, and this was a carry-over from the programme of the previous government.
He contends that now that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is in power, there should be a balancing act to ensure that the livelihoods of fishermen along the coastline of the southern Volta are also improved with these facilities.
The MP lamented that the large water body of the Keta-Avu Lagoon, its tributaries and the lower Volta estuaries had not been given the necessary attention that it deserved for marine fishing.
Mr Humado also called on the government to ensure that marine fishermen along the coast of Ghana were protected from the poaching activities of industrial fishing vessels, which illegally fished in the Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) of the Ghana’s territorial waters.
This problem, he said, must be high on the agenda of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in the 2010 Budget and its implementation.
Mr Humado was, however, full of praise for the government for its ability to effectively deal with the premix fuel problem which had almost become a thing of the past.
I am proud to revive my father’s vision-Samia Nkrumah
Page 11, Jan 12, 2010
Article: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
ONE year after she was voted into office as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro, the daughter of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, Samia Nkrumah, says she has not regretted the decision to offer herself to lead the people in her constituency.
“I am proud to revive the vision of my father, who devoted his entire life not only to Ghana but the liberation of the entire black race”, she said in an interview with the Daily Graphic, in a review of her one-year stay in office and the benefits that her initiatives had brought to her people.
The popularity that Samia Nkrumah is currently enjoying in her constituency may be a tonic for the revival of the fortunes of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), which her father formed to seek independence for the country.
According to her, the confidence of the people in her was as a result of the fulfilment of some of the promises she made during her campaign towards the 2008 general elections.
Being predominantly a rural constituency, the needs of the people were abundant but the MP said she had made good her promise to provide some of them in her first year in office.
The Jomoro Constituency, which also doubles as the Jomoro District, is located on the extreme south-western part of Ghana. It is a very challenged district with over ninety-five (95) deprived communities which are predominantly rural in nature. The constituency is coterminous with the district and has an estimated population of about 130,000, according to the year 2000 population census.
The district is poor, in the midst of many potentials ranging from gold, limestone, perennial water bodies, sandy beaches, forest reserves, wetlands, oil and gas reserves. The constituency has about 226 first-cycle schools and three (3) senior high schools. From the kindergarten to junior high schools, the overall pupil population is about 35,000, while the senior high school student population stands at approximately 2,000.
During her campaign tour before the 2008 election, the MP said she pledged to assist the constituency in development areas such as education, health, water and sanitation, and empowerment of people, among other key areas.
According to her, she had since winning power not relented in her efforts to fulfil her campaign promises, either by using her own resources or her share of the various funds available to MPs for such purposes.
One of the towns that have benefited from the MPs numerous projects in the constituency is New Town Wharf.
The community, with 700 inhabitants, is very challenged and has a severe problem of access to potable water, which often results in varying water-borne diseases.
As a border town, the community has a cross-section of security personnel, being mainly personnel of the Customs, Exercise and Preventive Service, the Immigration Service, and the Navy.
At a cost of Gh¢8,500.00, the MP has provided the community with potable water while similar projects are being carried out in communities such as Takinta and Ahumasuazo as part of her grand plan to provide potable water to as many communities as possible.
On education, Ms Samia Nkrumah stated that she had instituted a scholarship scheme to assist the brilliant, needy students in the area.
So far, a total of GH¢ 16,500.00 has been distributed to 50 tertiary students to assist them to pursue their courses in the various tertiary institutions in the country. She has also donated 50 bags of cement to the Ezinlibo Community leaders to renovate the local basic school.
The MP explained that her gesture was in fulfilment of her promise to use part of her Common Fund to finance the education of students to improve on the human resource base in the area.
On women empowerment in the Jomoro Constituency, Ms Nkrumah told the Daily Graphic that she had put together a strategy to ensure income-generating activities for women and would soon roll out a micro-credit scheme and provide seed money of GH¢30,000 for that purpose.
She said women in the area were being mobilised into groups to be provided with income-generating support and added that currently some women groups at Mpaesem, Enzemetianu and Tikobo No. 2 had been provided with some canopies, 50 plastic chairs and tables each, at a total cost GH¢8,100.00 from her personal resources.
Ms Nkrumah explained that the canopies and chairs are rented out and the proceeds go to the groups, and added that more communities were slated to benefit from other income-generating activities.
Article: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
ONE year after she was voted into office as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro, the daughter of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, Samia Nkrumah, says she has not regretted the decision to offer herself to lead the people in her constituency.
“I am proud to revive the vision of my father, who devoted his entire life not only to Ghana but the liberation of the entire black race”, she said in an interview with the Daily Graphic, in a review of her one-year stay in office and the benefits that her initiatives had brought to her people.
The popularity that Samia Nkrumah is currently enjoying in her constituency may be a tonic for the revival of the fortunes of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), which her father formed to seek independence for the country.
According to her, the confidence of the people in her was as a result of the fulfilment of some of the promises she made during her campaign towards the 2008 general elections.
Being predominantly a rural constituency, the needs of the people were abundant but the MP said she had made good her promise to provide some of them in her first year in office.
The Jomoro Constituency, which also doubles as the Jomoro District, is located on the extreme south-western part of Ghana. It is a very challenged district with over ninety-five (95) deprived communities which are predominantly rural in nature. The constituency is coterminous with the district and has an estimated population of about 130,000, according to the year 2000 population census.
The district is poor, in the midst of many potentials ranging from gold, limestone, perennial water bodies, sandy beaches, forest reserves, wetlands, oil and gas reserves. The constituency has about 226 first-cycle schools and three (3) senior high schools. From the kindergarten to junior high schools, the overall pupil population is about 35,000, while the senior high school student population stands at approximately 2,000.
During her campaign tour before the 2008 election, the MP said she pledged to assist the constituency in development areas such as education, health, water and sanitation, and empowerment of people, among other key areas.
According to her, she had since winning power not relented in her efforts to fulfil her campaign promises, either by using her own resources or her share of the various funds available to MPs for such purposes.
One of the towns that have benefited from the MPs numerous projects in the constituency is New Town Wharf.
The community, with 700 inhabitants, is very challenged and has a severe problem of access to potable water, which often results in varying water-borne diseases.
As a border town, the community has a cross-section of security personnel, being mainly personnel of the Customs, Exercise and Preventive Service, the Immigration Service, and the Navy.
At a cost of Gh¢8,500.00, the MP has provided the community with potable water while similar projects are being carried out in communities such as Takinta and Ahumasuazo as part of her grand plan to provide potable water to as many communities as possible.
On education, Ms Samia Nkrumah stated that she had instituted a scholarship scheme to assist the brilliant, needy students in the area.
So far, a total of GH¢ 16,500.00 has been distributed to 50 tertiary students to assist them to pursue their courses in the various tertiary institutions in the country. She has also donated 50 bags of cement to the Ezinlibo Community leaders to renovate the local basic school.
The MP explained that her gesture was in fulfilment of her promise to use part of her Common Fund to finance the education of students to improve on the human resource base in the area.
On women empowerment in the Jomoro Constituency, Ms Nkrumah told the Daily Graphic that she had put together a strategy to ensure income-generating activities for women and would soon roll out a micro-credit scheme and provide seed money of GH¢30,000 for that purpose.
She said women in the area were being mobilised into groups to be provided with income-generating support and added that currently some women groups at Mpaesem, Enzemetianu and Tikobo No. 2 had been provided with some canopies, 50 plastic chairs and tables each, at a total cost GH¢8,100.00 from her personal resources.
Ms Nkrumah explained that the canopies and chairs are rented out and the proceeds go to the groups, and added that more communities were slated to benefit from other income-generating activities.
Myers-Newman joins NDC vice-chairmanship race
Page 13, Jan 11, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
AN Accra-based Private Legal Practitioner and Business Consultant, Mr Samuel Myers-Newman has joined the race for the contest of the national vice-chairmanship slot of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The party is to hold its National Delegates Congress in Tamale from Saturday, January 16 to Sunday January 17 to elect its national officers.
Declaring his intention for the slot, Mr Myers-Newman, who is an opinion leader at the Okaikoi South Constituency of the party called for a healthy campaign in the run-up to the congress.
He also called on party members who were speaking against the style of governance of President Mills to consider the supreme interest of the party.
Mr Myers-Newman also cautioned delegates to the congress not to allow themselves to be influenced with monetary considerations to vote for a particular candidate since it would not augur well the for party.
He reminded members of the party that the NDC came to power based on the humility and sincerity of Professor Mills with his clear message for a better Ghana.
“:Let us follow the footsteps of the Professor and those who do not believe in his philosophy have no business wanting to be in his team”, he said.
Mr Myers-Newman gave the assurance that he would take good care of the foot soldiers of the party in addition to contributing to the building of stronger structures at the constituency levels to ensure that the party went into the 2012 elections with a strong and united force.
He said he had over the years gathered considerable experience in grassroot mobilisation in the constituency explaining that “the time is now ripe for me to venture into the realm of the national level to help widen the support base of the party”.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
AN Accra-based Private Legal Practitioner and Business Consultant, Mr Samuel Myers-Newman has joined the race for the contest of the national vice-chairmanship slot of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The party is to hold its National Delegates Congress in Tamale from Saturday, January 16 to Sunday January 17 to elect its national officers.
Declaring his intention for the slot, Mr Myers-Newman, who is an opinion leader at the Okaikoi South Constituency of the party called for a healthy campaign in the run-up to the congress.
He also called on party members who were speaking against the style of governance of President Mills to consider the supreme interest of the party.
Mr Myers-Newman also cautioned delegates to the congress not to allow themselves to be influenced with monetary considerations to vote for a particular candidate since it would not augur well the for party.
He reminded members of the party that the NDC came to power based on the humility and sincerity of Professor Mills with his clear message for a better Ghana.
“:Let us follow the footsteps of the Professor and those who do not believe in his philosophy have no business wanting to be in his team”, he said.
Mr Myers-Newman gave the assurance that he would take good care of the foot soldiers of the party in addition to contributing to the building of stronger structures at the constituency levels to ensure that the party went into the 2012 elections with a strong and united force.
He said he had over the years gathered considerable experience in grassroot mobilisation in the constituency explaining that “the time is now ripe for me to venture into the realm of the national level to help widen the support base of the party”.
NPP bigger than Nana Addo, Alan factions-Mac-Manu
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
IN the heat of reported internal factionalism, the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Peter Mac-Manu, has issued a rallying call to the rank and file of the party urging them not to be divided by perceived allegiance to Nana Akufo-Addo and Allan Kyerematen.
Mr Mac-Manu, who will not be seeking re-election at the forthcoming National Delegates Congress, urged the party faithful “to be united and committed to the party, since the party is supreme”, cautioning them against allowing themselves to be swayed by these factions.
The two leading members of the party contested the presidential primary for the last election and are believed to be massing up support to upstage each for the party’s presidential ticket for the next election.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic about the upcoming National Delegates Congress of the party, Mr Mac-Manu said members of the party would only be prepared to support whoever would emerge as the presidential candidate when they see the party as united.
“None of us should be seen as bigger than the party,” he declared, and called for more work to be done to cement party unity to make victory for 2012 more certain.
He said unity was essential and it would send strong signals to the electorate, majority of whom are disappointed in the NDC administration, to vote for the NPP to come back to power to implement its people-centred policies.
Mr Mac-Manu said although the party had always been accused of being “elitist” in outlook and interested in property democracy, it was the only political party in the history of the country that introduced socially responsive policies directed at the vulnerable in society.
He mentioned policies such as the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme, Metro Mass Transit and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, among others.
He indicated that the party was also using a report of the committee it constituted to ascertain the reasons behind the 2008 defeat to restructure the party.
Mr Mac-Manu said the current restructuring of the party was a result of the recommendations contained in the committee’s report.
While refusing to disclose contents of the report “because it is not for public consumption”, the national chairman said the party would keep its strength to its chest while working hard to correct its mistake.
Mr Mac-Manu accepted blame for the defeat of the party in the 2008 election, explaining that “when I accepted the mantle of leadership in 2005 I pledged to ensure that the NPP retained power in 2008 but that could not be achieved”.
He said he had, therefore, accepted not to seek for re-election to enable the party to get fresh ideas while he used his experience to assist whoever would be elected as his successor to recapture power in 2012.
Mr Mac-Manu said he enjoyed the support of the late Peter Ala Adjetey and Mr Haruna Esseku, both past national chairmen of the party, and would, therefore, not sit on the fence when he finally bowed out of office.
He thanked members of the party for giving him the chance to serve them, adding that he served as and executive member from the polling station level through the constituency and regional levels before becoming the national chairman.
Mr Mac-Manu explained that as a team leader, he would have enjoyed praises that would have been poured on the party should it have won the 2008 election and would, therefore, not run away from blame.
He commended the various constituencies across the country for holding peaceful elections to elect their executives and asked both winners and losers to co-operate for the good of the party.
Mr Mac-Manu also tasked those who would be elected as national officers to put in measures to deepen forgiveness and ensure membership drive at the grass roots.
IN the heat of reported internal factionalism, the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Peter Mac-Manu, has issued a rallying call to the rank and file of the party urging them not to be divided by perceived allegiance to Nana Akufo-Addo and Allan Kyerematen.
Mr Mac-Manu, who will not be seeking re-election at the forthcoming National Delegates Congress, urged the party faithful “to be united and committed to the party, since the party is supreme”, cautioning them against allowing themselves to be swayed by these factions.
The two leading members of the party contested the presidential primary for the last election and are believed to be massing up support to upstage each for the party’s presidential ticket for the next election.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic about the upcoming National Delegates Congress of the party, Mr Mac-Manu said members of the party would only be prepared to support whoever would emerge as the presidential candidate when they see the party as united.
“None of us should be seen as bigger than the party,” he declared, and called for more work to be done to cement party unity to make victory for 2012 more certain.
He said unity was essential and it would send strong signals to the electorate, majority of whom are disappointed in the NDC administration, to vote for the NPP to come back to power to implement its people-centred policies.
Mr Mac-Manu said although the party had always been accused of being “elitist” in outlook and interested in property democracy, it was the only political party in the history of the country that introduced socially responsive policies directed at the vulnerable in society.
He mentioned policies such as the Capitation Grant, the School Feeding Programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme, Metro Mass Transit and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, among others.
He indicated that the party was also using a report of the committee it constituted to ascertain the reasons behind the 2008 defeat to restructure the party.
Mr Mac-Manu said the current restructuring of the party was a result of the recommendations contained in the committee’s report.
While refusing to disclose contents of the report “because it is not for public consumption”, the national chairman said the party would keep its strength to its chest while working hard to correct its mistake.
Mr Mac-Manu accepted blame for the defeat of the party in the 2008 election, explaining that “when I accepted the mantle of leadership in 2005 I pledged to ensure that the NPP retained power in 2008 but that could not be achieved”.
He said he had, therefore, accepted not to seek for re-election to enable the party to get fresh ideas while he used his experience to assist whoever would be elected as his successor to recapture power in 2012.
Mr Mac-Manu said he enjoyed the support of the late Peter Ala Adjetey and Mr Haruna Esseku, both past national chairmen of the party, and would, therefore, not sit on the fence when he finally bowed out of office.
He thanked members of the party for giving him the chance to serve them, adding that he served as and executive member from the polling station level through the constituency and regional levels before becoming the national chairman.
Mr Mac-Manu explained that as a team leader, he would have enjoyed praises that would have been poured on the party should it have won the 2008 election and would, therefore, not run away from blame.
He commended the various constituencies across the country for holding peaceful elections to elect their executives and asked both winners and losers to co-operate for the good of the party.
Mr Mac-Manu also tasked those who would be elected as national officers to put in measures to deepen forgiveness and ensure membership drive at the grass roots.
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