The President, Nana Akufo-Addo has revealed that his victory in the 2016 elections was made possible by deep-rooted conflicts among the followers of his successor John Mahama and former president Rawlings.
The president was recalling the fact that, the three times, under the Fourth Republic, that a governing party has lost to the opposition were all caused by internal wrangling.
Speaking at the New Patriotic Party delegates conference in Kumasi, Sunday, the president advised the party to therefore “learn from history”.
For instance, he cited the popular ‘Swedru declaration’ that caused disaffection in the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) which eventually led to their defeat in 2000.
The NDC also took advantage of the division in the NPP at the grassroots following the presidential contest by 17 NPP aspirants, which the president said made it easier for the NDC to comeback to power in 2008.
Fast forwarding to 2016, the president observed, “the conflicts between Mills elements, Rawlings elements and the Mahama people helped us to our famous victory”.
It is for this reason why President Akufo-Addo said he gave his “active support” to the NPP’s National Council to amend the party’s constitution to ensure that metropolitan, municipal and district executives who want to contest parliamentary election to step down three years ahead of the general elections in areas with sitting Members of Parliament. The rule applies to chairpersons, secretaries and treasurers at the regional and constituency levels as well.
The amendment, he noted, is not different from what pertains in the constitution were the national chairman, secretary and treasurer are barred from contesting the president seeking re-election.
Though some members of the party had wanted the ban extended to other party executives and government appointees, the president said, such “radical move” ought to be taken with utmost care.
By Isaac Essel |3news.com | Ghana