The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, aka Sir John, has debunked assertions that the party’s newly appointed 35-member campaign team is made up of old and tired people who cannot work to unseat the NDC in the 2012 elections. According to Sir John, the NPP has rather injected youthful persons into flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo’s campaign to make it more vibrant. Last week, the NPP unveiled a 35-member Campaign Committee made up of its National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey; former National Chairman, Peter Mac Manu; Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, flag-bearer and his Campaign Manager, Boakye Agyarko, who is member-secretary of the Committee. Others are Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader; Fred Oware; T.B. Damba; and Sophia Honner-Sam, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Vice Chairpersons respectively of the party; Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, General Secretary; Esther Ofori, National Treasurer; Alhaji Muctar Bamba, National Organiser; Otiko Djaba, National Women’s Organiser; Anthony Karbo, National Youth Organizer; and Alhaji Abubakar Sulemana. Alan Kyerematen; Isaac Osei and Kwabena Frimpong, all contestants in the party’s 2009 presidential primary; Hajia Alima Mahama, former Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs; Mike Oquaye, MP for Dome-Kwabenya; Cecilia Abena Dapaah, MP for Bantama; Freddy Blay, former MP for Ellembele; and Mrs Beno Bismark were also nominated by Nana Akufo-Addo to join the team. The Member of Parliament for Okere and former General Secretary of the party, Dan Botwe; Yaw Twumasi; Matthew Opoku Prempeh, MP for Manhyia; Ato Williams; Gloria Akuffo, a former Deputy Attorney General; Ken Ofori-Atta, Executive Chairman of Databank Financial Services; Lord Commey, a former National Organiser; Victor Newman; Frema Osei-Opare and Nana Akomea are all part of the team working in various capacities. However, there have been concerns that the team is composed of old men who have no new ideas or strategies to contribute to the party’s campaign. But Sir John maintained that this is the best team the party has selected, adding that it is a blend of youthful and experienced members who can work vigorously to ensure that the party wins power in 2012. Speaking on Dwaso Nsem on Adom FM, he explained that the perception that ideas and strategies can only come from the hierarchy of the party cannot be true which is why the youth are being given the chance to bring their views on board to help the party. He also denied claims that those who started the campaign have been relegated to the background and replaced with people who lack ideas, saying the 35-member committee is only representing the whole which will speak for the party at all times saying all other opinions are welcome. The NPP General Secretary said the theme for the campaign, literally, is that the job is not for any one person hence Nana Akufo-Addo's recent all hands on deck campaign tour. On the structure of the campaign, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie said unlike what pertained in 2008, there will not be one broad national campaign, he said now all campaign coordinators will campaign from the regional, constituency and polling station levels to market the party and the presidential candidate very well to the masses. Story by Akuamoah Boateng/Adom FM/Ghana