NPP boss says electoral alliances cannot be ruled out

Accra (Greater Accra) 14 July '99

The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Sammuel A. Odoi-Sykes says co-operation and alliances cannot be ruled out in national politics.

He said if the need arises, the opposition political parties, especially the Convention Party and NPP, will have to enter into an alliance in order to wrest political power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr Odoi-Sykes told the Ghana News Agency in Accra at the weekend that experiences from the 1996 electoral pact of the defunct Great Alliance was a trauma and politicians of the Nkrumaist and Danquah/Busia traditions have learnt their lessons and mistakes.

Asked whether the NPP will contest seats in constituencies where there are sitting PCP Members of Parliament, the NPP Chairman said there has not been any formal pact that the NPP will not contest such seats.

However, he added, "it does not mean we cannot have alliances at constituencies."

On the chances of the NPP in next year's general elections, Mr Odoi Sykes said the party is seriously preparing for the contest saying "we have confidence in Mr John Agyekum Kufuor NPP's Flag-bearer), that he will beat any candidate the National Democratic Congress chooses."

He said Ghanaians are yearning for change and it is the NPP that will bring about the needed change.

Touching on the performance of the Minority Group in Parliament, Mr Odoi-Sykes said "they are doing very well but they are not given adequate publicity."

He said the finance, campaign and publicity committees set up by the NPP have started work and by the end of September this year they must have identified their problems and provide the necessary solutions to enhance the chances of the party in the poll.

Mr Odoi-Sykes said presently the party is concentrating on putting up structures on the ground and organising the whole country on the basis of polling stations.

He said the party is recruiting polling agents and training them to prevent electoral malpractices and complete its parliamentary primaries by the end of next September.

The NPP Chairman said the party would also start outdoor activities and provide resources such as computers and fax machines for constituency offices.

Money has always been the problem of the party and efforts are being made to mobilise funds, he said.