New Patriotic Party flag-bearer aspirant for election 2012, Alan Kyerematen, has said that polling agents would be put in charge of the party’s campaign at the grassroots if he is given the opportunity to lead the party. He says their inclusion will strengthen the NPP within communities, lorry parks and markets where elections are won or lost. Addressing party executives in the Upper West Region, Mr. Kyerematen said, “Resources including money, T-shirts, posters and all that was needed to run a campaign in the constituencies would be channelled through the executives and the polling agents.” “If we want power we must resource the polling station executives and the constituency executives and we would see the change,” he added. The campaign which saw him through Wa, Nadowli, Kaleo and Jirapa gave him the opportunity to interact well with members of the constituencies. He made a stopover at the graveside of the late Jato Kaleo, one of the founding members of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition. At a meeting with opinion leaders early on to kick-start the tour, Alhaji Abdulai Alhassan, the first Upper West regional chairman when the party was formed in 1992, re-echoed the feeling among the party members that, “Ghanaians are crying for Alan K who they see as someone who could provide good leadership for the country.” “It is for this reason that delegates who would choose the party’s next flag-bearer must bear in mind that their duty is not to the NPP alone but for the entire nation,” he added. Mr Kyerematen told the party members that, “for a party in power to win only two out of the ten regions in the country, it was clear that if the party wants to win the next elections, they needed a change in strategy and leadership for one who can attract votes from all over the country,”. Accordingly, he urged the delegates at the August 7 congress to elect him among the five candidates who have put themselves forward to lead the party, adding that, “beating the NDC would not be an easy task and this means fighting them boot for boot and bumper to bumper.” Mr Kyerematen said, when elected the flag-bearer, he would ensure that all the constituencies set up small businesses called Constituency Business Ventures to help finance local party activities. “In addition, a Welfare Fund would also be set up which would be used to assist members in time of need,” he added. Many delegates say they will elect a candidate who would help the party to win the next election, adding that, “in the markets, trotros and taxis all over the country, the talk is that Alan Kyerematen is the one who would win the election for the NPP.” Mr Kyerematen has been saying that “That is why the delegates must elect someone who would attract the votes from all Ghanaians irrespective of which party they belong and from among the floating voters. The candidate must also be young, dynamic, energetic and God-fearing,” he added. Story credit: Alan’s camp