By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Bolgatanga, Aug. 10, GNA – Mr Anthony Namoo, Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged members to close their ranks, end internal divisions and work together to recapture power in the 2028 general elections.
He said the party’s poor performance in the 2024 elections, particularly in the Upper East Region, was partly attributable to unhealthy rivalry, indiscipline and internal acrimony among members.
Mr Namoo gave the advice in Bolgatanga during an appreciation and dinner night he organised to recognise individuals who had contributed to the development and progress of the party in the region.
The event was held on the theme: “In All Things, Give Thanks to God.”
It was attended by members of the party’s Regional Council of Elders and Patrons, regional and constituency executives, former chief executives, former Members of Parliament, ambassadors, party supporters and other stakeholders.
Mr Namoo, who would not seek re-election as Regional Chairman, said the party needed to learn from the 2024 election, put aside internal disagreements and focus on the 2028 election.
“We, the key members of the party gathered here and others, hold the panacea to our misfortune in the electoral market in the region. There is no better moment than now for us to close our ranks to work for the great party to which we are proud members,” he said.
He also called for discipline among party members, particularly at the constituency and grassroots levels, saying anti-party activities during the 2024 elections had weakened the NPP.
Mr Namoo, who served as Regional Chairman for eight years, acknowledged that although his tenure witnessed a decline in the party’s electoral fortunes, he remained optimistic that the NPP could regain its strength in the region.
“For the records, since 2002, no NPP Regional Chairman has done up to four (4) years in office. Having broken this jinx, it is only appropriate that this event is organised not to celebrate but to provide an opportunity for reflection and optimism, having regard to the fact that the period I served as chairman witnessed a period of decline in the electoral fortunes of the party in the region,” he said.
He said the party’s older generation had demonstrated remarkable perseverance by remaining committed to the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition during nearly three decades in opposition before the tradition eventually returned to power.
“For us, the younger generation, we should learn from the perseverance and tenacity of our elders to stay on course with the NPP. There is light certainly at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
“To all those who felt hard done by me in the course of my tenure as Regional Chairman, I say we were applying the rules of the party. It was not actuated by malice, hatred nor ill-will,” he said.
Mr Ussif Mustapha, Member of Parliament for Yagba-Kubori Constituency in the North East Region and a former Minister of Youth and Sports, who was the Guest of Honour, also urged members to unite and begin preparations immediately for the 2028 elections.
“When we fight each other internally, the people cannot trust us to fight for them. When we are divided, we give our opponents an easy win,” he said.
Mr Mustapha commended Mr Namoo for the initiative to recognise the contributions of party members and urged the incoming executives to strengthen their presence in communities, listen to farmers, traders and the youth, and address their concerns.
He said the party’s collective agenda must take precedence over individual ambitions if it was to achieve victory in 2028.
All members of the Council of Elders and Patrons, former executives, dedicated party communicators, as well as A1 Radio and Dreamz FM, two Bolgatanga-based radio stations, were honoured with citations for their various roles and contributions to the party.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Audrey Dekalu
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Email: [email protected]