The 1st Vice National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Fred Oware, has decided to contest the National Chairmanship position of the party. 

The election, scheduled for March 1, 2014, is being keenly contested by a number of personalities, including the incumbent,  Jake Obetsebi Lamptey; Mr Paul Afoko, a leading party functionary who is reported to be making major inroads among both the grass roots and bigwigs within the party corridors; former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Ayikoi Otoo, who is also reported to be working hard to clinch the Chairmanship after the expiration of the term of the current executives; and Mr Steve Ntim, another strong contender for the position.

According to Mr Oware, his key objective is to bring to the leadership of the party unique abilities to pull everyone to the centre.

That, he explained, would mean strengthening, energising and resourcing the entire party structure, particularly at the constituency and polling station levels, to function effectively.

In the past four years, the 1st Vice National Chairman said he had actively raised resources and logistics for the party, having travelled to every corner of the country pursuing the party’s interest.

Experiences

“The experience and contacts made in the electoral industry is too valuable to allow them to go to waste,” he stated.

On what he was bringing to bear on the fortunes of the party, Mr Oware declared: “I bring to NPP a pair of safe, mature and experienced hands that everyone can trust. I am open and shall give access and hearing to the grass roots but would continue to be firm in the interest of the party. I am from and for the private sector; our development partners. I am the purposeful manager who understands that together we all must manage the grass roots to win general elections.”

He, therefore, urged the party’s delegates to be mindful that “our business is to win general elections and that bring real development to our people and this requires trusted leadership.”

Accordingly, he invited the delegates and party members at all levels to buy into his vision of truly uniting the party for Victory 2016 by endorsing him as party chairman.

Ideals of party

Inspired by the ideals of the party and its leadership, Mr Oware became a member of the party two decades ago.

Over the years, Mr Oware argues that the party’s maxim of “Development in Freedom,” based on the principles of rule of law, personal freedoms, free market operation and strong family values, has proven that it is best for any country to inspire its people to work and improve upon themselves.

Currently, he said, firm leadership, strategic planning, timely implementation of plans, use of intelligence and party cohesion and unity were matters requiring experienced and fair-minded people to attend to.