EGLE outdoors re-constituted interim executives

Accra, Aug. 12, GNA- The EGLE party, on Monday outdoored a 14-member reconstituted interim executive body to revamp the party for Election 2008 campaign.

The reconstituted executives headed by Alhaji Alhassan Bene as the chairman, was charged to organise regional congress by the end of August and prepare for its Special National Delegates' Congress by the first week of September to select a flag bearer. Alhaji Bene told the GNA in an interview in Accra that other members of the interim body were Mr Henry Giddi, Vice Chairman; Mr Kojo Tsimark, General Secretary, Mr Benjamin Bediako, National Organiser, Mr Francis Lokko, Propaganda Secretary; Ms Cecilia Akwetey, Women Organiser; and Mr Cornelius Beniyotsor, Communication Director. The rest were Mr Jacob Letsu, chairman of Elections Committee; Alhaji Abdulraman Jamatutu, Chairman of Finance Committee and other deputy executives.

The EGLE party following the inception of the Fourth Republic was campaigning under the shadow of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) until Election 2004 when the party entered into an electoral alliance with the People's National Convention (PNC). As part of the electoral pact EGLE's national chairman, the late Mr Danny Ofori-Atta became the running mate to Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama, PNC flag bearer for Election 2004. Since the death of Mr Ofori-Atta last year, the EGLE party has been without any sustentative executives.

Alhaji Bene said the Electoral Commission and other democratic stakeholders had been informed about the interim executives. He said the leadership of the party had decided to invite former members of the party to rejoin its ranks to transform it into a viable political organisation.

Alhaji Bene said "We are working hard to bring on board personalities who were instrumental in the formation and development of the party to ensure its revitalisation". He said as a result of consultations, most former leading members of the party had demonstrated their willingness to rejoin the party to assist in its reactivation and preparation towards the next presidential and parliamentary elections.

Alhaji Bene said its national leadership had drawn up an elaborate programme to win back all its supporters who, through diverse circumstances, decided to "recoil into their shells" since the party could not afford losing such members to its political opponents. "Politics is a game of numbers and, for that matter, we will, from now onwards, resolve all matters that threaten the support base of the party so that none of our supporters would either remain on the fence or join other political parties."

Alhaji Bene said the party had just started its re-organisation programmes to transform it into a formidable machinery to dispose of the "malfunctioning" New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the December polls. He called for a united front and appealed to all its interim regional, constituency and national executives to redouble their effort in mass mobilisation and strengthen the party structures at the grassroots.

Alhaji Bene also urged its foot soldiers to put on their combat gear and register their presence on the political battlefield. "We not must join democratic forces to ensure the defeat of the NPP and redeem Ghanaians from the hardship," he said.