NPP leadership urged to apply sanctions

Kumasi, June 4, GNA - A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has appealed to the national leadership of the party to be bold and act decisively to tackle the growing indiscipline in the party. Mr Opoku Agyeman Prempeh, a leading member, said those whose conduct is found to be offensive must be made to face the appropriate sanctions as prescribed by the party's constitution. He said the impunity with which some followers of the aspiring presidential candidates were carrying themselves posed serious threat to the fortunes of the party in the 2012 lections.

There is therefore the need for the leadership to sit up and deal with the situation head-on.

Mr Prempeh, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi, said it was time followers and sympathizers of the party's presidential aspirants who go on radio stations to cast insinuations and unsavoury remarks on those whose candidacy they do not support are brought to book. He said all the five contestants were capable of leading the party to victory in the 2012 election and there was therefore the need for the party hierarchy to protect their dignity and restrain people from attacking their image and integrity.

"The contestants have shown greater magnanimity in their campaigning by concentrating their messages on their capabilities and what they can offer when given the nod. The same however, cannot be said about their followers, some of whom have gone on radio stations to personally attack and insult other candidates", he said. Mr Agyeman said these acts could portray the candidates in bad light in the eyes of the floating voters, whose support the party would need to win the 2012 election.

He said it would be difficult to do any effective damage repair after the August 7 primaries, if efforts were not made to rein in the supporters. "The NPP is one big family and there is the need for all members to show decorum and respect for each other, especially the leaders, but not to chastise them for their decision to lead the party", he said. Mr Prempeh called on the supporters of the various candidates to respect themselves and desist from hopping from one radio station to another, insulting the personality of the candidates.