The leadership of a New Patriotic Party (NPP) group known as the Patriotic Intellectuals, has called on members of the governing party to spend their energies in speaking about the achievements of the NPP government under Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, instead of the internal bickering over the resignation of party stalwart, Alan Kyerematen.
Following the resignation of the former Trade and Industry Minister to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 general elections, some party members have criticized him especially for the claims he made as basis for his exit.
But the Takoradi Technical University chapter of the Patriotic Intellectuals at a news conference on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, said it is more important for members to trumpet the achievements of President Akufo-Addo and the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, since that will be the party’s trump card going into election 2024.
The Chairman of the Takoradi Technical University branch of the Patriotic Intellectuals, Michael Asare Appiah, said “We bemoan the decision of Hon. Alan Kyerematen, who was a stalwart of the NPP to resign and contest as an independent candidate in the 2024 general election. Even though we are saddened by his decision, we respect it. We admonish all members of the NPP, especially party communicators to be magnanimous with their reaction towards him; and spend their time defending the achievements of the Akufo–Addo–Bawumia Government.”
The group also commended the supporters of Mr. Alan Kyerematen “who for party unity and the belief to break the 8, have thrown their support for one candidate or the other. We urge others who are yet to decide to as a matter of necessity do so in the interest of the great NPP and the Osono [Elephant] family. Further to this, we admonish all party members to treat all former supporters of Mr. Kyerematen (i.e., who chose to stay with the NPP) with all the dignity and respect deserving of bona fide members of the NPP.”
On the upcoming presidential primaries in November to elect the party’s presidential candidate for election 2024, the Patriotic Intellectuals appealed to the contestants and their followers to be decorous in their campaigning and be minded about the need to keep the party united for victory in 2024.
“We also wish to admonish all parties involved in the election to continue to hold the party’s image in high esteem; and to be profoundly measured in their public pronouncements and in their engagements with party delegates during their campaigns. They must conduct themselves in ways that would bring honour, rather than humiliation to the party.”
Dr. Eric Bruce-Amartey (L) Jnr. Vice Chairman.
According to the group, the party’s victory in 2024 will largely depend on its level of unity, hence the need for all stakeholders to be committed to that.
It is worthy to mention that, to be victorious in the 2024 general elections, we must work together as a family to accomplish our superior goal of being the first political party to break the 8 under the 1992 constitutional dispensation. Indeed, our party’s unity is imperative for the growth and development of the Republic, and this can only be achieved if all of us, are ready to sacrifice our individual interests, and work for the betterment of our Party and by biological extension – Ghana as a whole.”
Our strength and ability as a party to break the eight (8) year rotational governance between the NPP and the NDC would be based on the many achievements of the Nana Addo-Bawumia legacies which we must defend and protect. We must understand that the November 4 Presidential primary is an internal party election and there are no opposition or opponents but rather friendly competitors, therefore anything you cannot say after the party has elected a flagbearer on November 4 2023, do not say it today. Let us all agree to disagree and rally ourselves in the saying ‘’unity in diversity” it added.
The group commended all presidential aspirants on how they have conducted themselves so far in the electoral process.
Indeed, it has never been an easy venture for one to put up him/herself for elections, particularly within the NPP. Accordingly, we wish them all the best in all their endeavours leading up to the Presidential primary on November 4, 2023.”
It also acknowledged the national executives of the party, as well as the Presidential Election Committee for their dedicated services and strong commitment and fidelity to a peaceful electoral process.
“We also wish to commend them for the diverse steps they have taken so far in addressing the alleged infractions that occurred during the super delegates election, particularly, having fully involved the remaining aspirants in the preparation of the new guidelines for the November 4, Presidential Primary. We encourage them to hasten their pace in addressing all other outstanding issues pertaining to the super delegate election.”
The Takoradi Technical University Branch of the Patriotic Intellectuals group also urged all government appointees and high-ranking party officials to be responsive and closer to attend to the concerns of the grassroots party members, to bring back the tenacity with which the 2016 election campaign was conducted.
“This would also lift up the confidence our grassroots, and avoid apathy, going into the 2024 elections. PI is poised to fiercely defend the core values and achievements of the ruling party and government, and to support the party in the area of media communications, research, as well as monitoring and evaluation, to make our dream of consolidating power a reality come 2024” the group noted.
