In the latest chapter of the Nana Akufo-Addo campaign’s efforts to expand its message beyond traditional media and interact with all Ghanaians, the NPP flag-bearer is inviting Ghanaians in the Diaspora to join him for a real-time online conversation about the future of Ghana that promises to be wide-ranging and lively. The online event slated for Saturday, August 2, 2008 presents a great opportunity for Ghanaians abroad to have a direct and unfiltered conversation with the presidential candidate on the critical issues facing the nation. Interested Ghanaians must register at www.akufoaddo.org before the event to participate. “This online event is unprecedented in the annals of Ghanaian politics. Nana has promised to continue with the open-door policy of the Kufour administration and this innovative approach is a further manifestation of it” says Dr. Arthur Kennedy, the campaign’s Communication Director. In a statement, Dr. Kennedy said participants can e-mail their questions when they register for the event. During the online event, Nana Akufo-Addo will formally launch the campaign’s re-designed website, www.akufoaddo.org. The re-launched website allows supporters to donate money through secure channels and write political blogs or personal diaries. It also provides grassroots organizing tools to allow supporters to communicate online and organize fund-raising events such as house parties, picnics and rallies. The statement said although live online conversation is still in the embryonic stage even in a politically matured democracy such as the United States, it is a powerful new way for politicians to reach new voters and donors. The statement also quotes John Agyei, a prominent supporter of the New Patriotic Party based in New York City as saying that “For Nana to embrace this new, powerful and arguably risky technology of live, unfiltered communication with voters attests to his ability and open-mindedness to take the reasonable risks to solve the nation’s problems”. For Ghanaians living abroad, the online event presents the opportunity to ask questions about pressing diasporan issues such as dual citizenship, right to vote in Ghana (ROPAL), brain drain, transition and re-integration. Source: Akufo-Addo campaign team