Let’s have a peaceful congress

TOMORROW, Saturday, February 27, 2010 delegates of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) would convene at the Kumasi Sports Stadium in Kumasi to choose new executives to run the affairs of the party. Indeed, the event is not the first of its kind to be organised by a political party in the country since Ghana was ushered into the Fourth Republic.

WE wish to state that since the return to multi-party democracy political parties in this country have organised national congresses that have seen the election of party executives. And tomorrow’s NPP congress should be seen as one of such by its supporters and members. Of course, it is also a historic occasion as delegates have a choice to retain the old bloc or introduce new faces to run the affairs of the party.

SINCE it went into opposition, the NPP has been dogged with many problems with the challenging one being the Alan Kyerematen and Nana Addo factions within the party. There is no denying the fact that the two factions exist in the party, and the NPP will be doing itself a lot of disservice if it continues to sweep this matter under the carpet.

WE all saw how the National Democratic Congress (NDC) organised its national delegates congress in Tamale in the Northern region. In fact, the success of the Tamale congress enabled leading NDC members to advise the NPP to take a cue from that event.

AND now that the dust has settled we hope the NPP would ensure a successful Kumasi congress. We also want to remind those gunning for the various positions to allow delegates to choose based on what they believe and think is good for the larger interest of the party.

THIS brings the issue of intimidation and maltreatment of opponents usually at party congresses to the fore. Often times we have had reports of intimidation of opponents with some degenerating into unnecessary skirmishes and one attack and the other.

IT is our prayer that nothing untoward will happen at tomorrow’s congress. We also trust that all security arrangements have been made far in advance to prevent and arrest people with ill-intentions to foment trouble at the congress ground.

WE at Today hope that delegates will have the responsibility, and without fear or favour, choose national executives who will help grow the NPP and country’s nascent democracy. To this end, we wish to seize this opportunity to condemn the practice where congresses of political parties have become avenues for the display of opulence.

THIS practice, which has warmed itself into Ghana’s body politic, is most unfortunate and must be stopped. It tends to suggest that politics is about making money and not seen as a service to improve the lot of the citizenry in our part of the globe. We hope that the contesting candidates will refrain from this negative practice to enable delegates choose the right executive to steer the affairs of the NPP.

ALL said and done we wish the NPP a successful congress.