The Baba Yara Sports stadium will from this mourning till later in the evening, host staccato of activities by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to elect new crop of leaders to steer the affairs of the party for the next four years.
Seventeen (17) constituency executives, ten (10) members of the Council of State, ten (10) patrons, eighty (80) TESCON members, amongst other which swell the number of delegates to nine-hundred and forty-three (943) would be casting votes for thirty-eight positions being contested by over 17 candidates.
So far, the most talked-about position which is being keenly contest is the chairmanship position; which many think is likely to go in favour of fresh ideas-man Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, otherwise known as COKA against the incumbent, old-leaf Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The others are: Asare Bediako, Owusu Oduomi and Oheneba Adum-Bawuah.
The Ashanti region as the stronghold of the ruling NPP has suffered delays in execution of many developmental projects, including roads and hospitals. A number of party delegates blame the incumbent regional Chairman for the retrogressing development in the region.
Former Member of Parliament for the Ejisu constituency, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, is poised to restore development in the region.
“We need to uplift the development in the region. People don’t want to vote because they need good roads in their area,” he said.
Six times constituency chairman for Asokwa, Asare Bediako, has also been preaching unity for the party.
“Togetherness is the keyword for the party. A lot of our members are disappointed at the party, we need to bring them together and give them hope. If I am weak, I wouldn’t have been constituency for six times for Asokwa,” he told radio stations in the region.
COKA, however, told Journalist last Wednesday that “I will always come to you, live and learn with you. Love and serve you. I will plan with you and build on what you know. I will encourage all party members to be active in discussing all our major issues together and I will constantly examine, review and correct my actions to maintain unity in the
Party,” a message many delegates say is resonating with them.
Read below excerpts of COKA’s press statement:
My name is Odenho Kwaku Appiah, aka COKA, I have passed through all the party ranks, and this makes me the best candidate for this
chairmanship race. My political work started as political campaigner I was a chairman for Concern Citizen Association, pressing for development in
Ashanti region and beyond, as Ward Organizer for Subin Constituency, as
Government Appointee to Bekwai District Assembly, as Regional Financial
Secretary for Ashanti Region under chairman F. F. Fanto and as Constituency Chairman for NPP Afigya Kwabre South for many years till now.
Delegates, these experiences show that I understand the political environment and I am ready to take the position of chairmanship in the region.
Delegates, Now as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, those who accept politics of “Anything Goes”. Let me say to them, there
is only one NPP, that is what I am fighting for, unified NPP.
Delegates, the policies I set out today are rooted in the day-to-day concerns of the party members. And today, I lay before you a reasonable plan for my chairmanship that starts with assuring the party members; fair, accountable, successful party, also a better and fair future for all.
Delegates, every statement of policy needs to have an idea at it(s) heart.
The basic principle that has pushed my idea is something I have always
believed in.
This is not a promise, it is a plan.
Working together with you, we can change our party for good.
We will do and run our party differently together, for once.
We have learned from our mistakes, “NOW!!! and NOW!!!” we are going
to try something new…I believe:
“We can turn anger into hope!!!
Frustration into ambition!!!!!!!!!
Hopeless into chance for everyone!!!!!
Delegates!!!! There is room for everybody to leave happily, under my chairmanship, I plan to create “welfare and youth trust to assist those need in the region, trust me delegates, this is possible, I will do it
!!!!!!, I will do it !!!!!!,
I am not going to be a chairman for Kumasi,
I am going to be a chairman for Ashanti Region.
These are promises, you can trust.
My idea recognises that the party has changed.
Delegates!!!!! Under my leadership as a chairman, I will restore trust back
in the party, I plead with you to trust me.
Delegates!!!! Under my chairmanship, we are going to work together, think together, decide together, vote together, suffer together, enjoy together, solve our issues and differences together. This is what
makes my idea different.
What unite us is bigger than what divide us, we are all working for one common goal, we have a party to manage and to protect to win power
in 2024 (election)
Delegates, I am very positive that we can leave the party better than we
found it for our future generation.
This is a promise you can trust.
Delegates!!!!!!! If you want a practical and reasonable help, instead of
empty words: this is the idea for you, then COKA is the man.
Delegates!!!! If you want a leader with vision, passion, devotion, hard work and love, Vote for COKA. If you want promises you can trust,
then is COKA.
Delegates!!!!! my leadership will show you love and respect, I will not abandon you, I will not leave you to your own resources; I will not stand taller than you. I will do whatever I think is right, not what my mind directs me.
My opponents may have (maybe) good ideas, but can they deliver? Delegates!!!! under my leadership we will always think about the future for all, I will bring hope alive to the party, make our dreams come true, and
meet the ambition of the party.
Delegates!!!!! you need to make the right decision now, the right choice
now for our future generation in Ashanti Region as a whole.
Delegates, in building the future, I will do all my best to fight with all my strength, energy and resources to work with you to achieve our party goals and objectives. The vote from Ashanti Region is important for our party, let’s not under estimate this, we need a strong, competent, confident,
strategic and wise leader like myself to lead the region.
Delegates!!!!! I will use my energy, skills and resources to deliver the best to achieve lasting results. I am passionate about uplifting the party better than we found it now
Delegates, my beliefs to have true meaning, I will live with them, not just most of the time but all the time. Not just for myself, but for us all.
Delegates!!!!! I belief that fairness is not just about the distribution of rewards, but the distribution of responsibilities, fair rules applied to all. Delegates!!!! Please let me tell you, if anybody tells you that it does not matter who wins the regional chairmanship election; because they are all
the same, just ask that person:
- Which chairman stands for democratic principle and offer democratic change?
- Which chairman believes in Accountability, Respect, Integrity,
Stewardship?
- Which chairman doesn’t use insult to solve problems?
- Which chairman has done more party work and understand the party structures, the grassroots and understand the environment we are going to work?
Delegates!!!!! We want a Chairman who will keep our strategies secret.
Delegates!!!!! We want a Chairman who will discuss social and economic policies not a leader who will show and talk about his wealth, who created that wealth? Is you who created it for him, you put him in power.
The answer is COKA – the Chairman with the plan for the future.
Delegates!!!!!! I say to you today: the future will be progressive; COKA is in
the fight for our lives – and it is the fight for our future.
I have faith in the delegates and our party members.
I am confident that, together, we can make the future of our beloved party
brighter; and can be both sustained and shared.
I am confident in the vision and the values that it will lead us to 2024
election victory.
I am confident in the team I will lead and the policies I promise.
I have to remember that you voted me to power, therefore I will always stay
closer to you.
I will always come to you, live and learn with you. Love and serve you. I will plan with you and build on what you know. I will encourage all party members to be active in discussing all our major issues together and I will constantly examine, review and correct my actions to maintain unity in the
party.
Delegates, I belief in politics of hope and politics of care, if there is a child that cannot get food to eat, that matters to me. If there is an old woman or old man, who cannot get money to buy medicine, that makes me feel bad. If there is a young man or young woman, who cannot get a job to buy his or
basic needs, that breaks my heart, even if he/she is not my relative.
It is my basic belief that, I am my brother’s keeper, or my sister’s keeper,
working together will allow us to achieve our individual dreams.
Do we want to practice politics of selfish or do we want to practice politics of hope? I believe in politics of hope and call on you for hope.
GOD IS OUR ONLY HOPE!!!!!! GOD BLESS GHANA!!!!!! GOD BLESS NPP!!!!!
