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.