MAINTAIN THE SOUTH-NORTH PARTNERSHIP, NPP URGED (PAGE 17, MARCH 15, 2010)

The Upper West Second Vice-Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin –Salih, has urged the leadership of the party to maintain the south–north partnership of the presidential ticket for the 2012 election.
He, however, suggested that the choice of a running mate should be based on competence and not religion.
Addressing a press conference in Wa, he said the party should focus its campaign in the three northern regions which have shown steady support for the NPP since 1996.
“Former President Kufuor and Vice-President Aliu Mahama should also be courted to actively participate in the recapturing votes exercise while the youth and women wings of our great party must be adequately resourced”, he added
According to him, in order to rebuild the party “we need to have a sense of unity and the belief in the absolute supremacy of the NPP and take full responsibility for our actions”.
Mr Bin-Salih noted that for the party to be able to leap from opposition to power, it must remain attractive, visible, show the potential of winning the 2012 election, avoid self-destructive tendencies and offer constructive proposals.
“Let us not be deceived into thinking that because of the lack of inspirational leadership on the part of President Mills as well as the economic mismanagement, media oppression, human rights abuse, high cost of living, reckless use of political power and the deliberate frustration of genuine Ghanaian businesses and people who are perceived to be sympathisers of NPP are sufficient grounds for the NPP to secure power from the NDC in 2012 on a silver platter. We must recognise that after all, power is not given but taken”, he said
Mr Bin-Salih pointed out that for the NPP to recapture power there was the need to rekindle the spirit which guided the forebears of the party to establish the United Party in 1957 which also made the Danquah–Busia–Dombo tradition unique because it brought on board people of diverse ethnic and religious persuasions, yet they were able to get along very well.
He recalled that the political history of the NPP was replete with painful truths that any time the party allowed its loyalty to be focused on individuals or groups of people the party found itself on the wrong side of history.
He, therefore, advised members of the party not to allow their selfish and parochial ethnic sentiments to derail the foundation of the party’s tradition and added that people must learn to bury their individual ambitions and ensure the collective interest of the NPP.
Touching on the 14-month rule of the NDC’s Mr Bin–Salih said it had failed Ghanaians by breaking most of its electoral promises. Prominent among these, he said, was the government reneging on the payment of the initial start-up contribution of GH¢200 million towards the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority and an annual contribution of GH¢ 100 million each year for 20 years.
“Also the NDC government has not been able to put money in our pockets. The safety and security of most Ghanaians are in danger. We are collapsing under filth after they promised to clear the nation of filth within 100 days in the office”, he noted
Mr Bin–Salih used the opportunity to congratulate the newly elected national executive and urged them to live up to the challenge of bringing the party back to power.