An active member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Fred Amankwa-Sarfo has commended the leadership of the party for constituting a committee to review the 2016 elections which was won by the party.
In a statement copied to Adomonline.com, Mr Amankwah-Asarfo said the review was necessary and a right step towards building a formidable force for the 2020 elections.
“The decision of NPP NEC as a pragmatic step toward building a more formidable front for the 2020 election as a party. We are most grateful to the Leadership of our party, the NPP for this decision…,” the statement partly said.
Chronicling the history of election reviews conducted by the party since the beginning of the fourth republic, the statement signed by Benjamin Akowua, an aide to the Mr Amankwah-Asarfo said reviewing of national elections have helped the development of the party.
The office of Mr Amankwah-Sarfo, he noted is prepared to submit proposals to the committee on the observations of the office of the active NPP member.
“We pledge our support to post electoral reviews at all levels of our party’s structures from the polling station, constituencies, regional and national. We ready to submit proposals and suggestions to the review committee on a number of issues the research department of the Office of Fred Amankwah – Sarfo has assembled,” the statement said.
Below is the full statement from the office:
The Office of Fred Amankwah – Sarfo receives the inauguration of the Addo Kuffour Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Review Committee for the 2016 elections with great admiration.
The office considers the decision of NPP NEC a as pragmatic step toward building a more formidable front for the 2020 election as a party. We are most grateful to the Leadership of our party, the NPP for this decision.
Our party is noted for conducting post-election review of Ghana’s Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. References can be made to the 1992, 1996, 2008 and 2012 elections where such reviews contributed significantly to some amendments of the party’s constitution. These reviews also helped in reshaping Ghana’s electoral process and enhancing the country’s democratic credentials as other political parties take cues from us to inform their internal party democracy.
We trust the Committee to judiciously perform to help advance the frontier of participatory democracy.
It is noteworthy that our party’s previous electoral reviews were made to ascertain the factors that contributed the party’s performance in those elections. We are with a considered opinion that Review Committees are equally necessary for elections won by the party in general elections such as in the 2000 and 2004. It is also for this reason that the Office of Fred Amankwah – Sarfo is delighted with the current development initiated by our party’s National Executive Council as timely.
The report of Dr Opoku Adusei’ 2016 Election Review Committee would provide a road map and foundation to implement strategic plans to help us secure subsequent election victories starting with the 2020 general election.
We pledge our support to post electoral reviews at all levels of our party’s structures from the polling station, constituencies, regional and national.
We ready to submit proposals and suggestions to the review committee on a number of issues the research department of the Office of Fred Amankwah – Sarfo has assembled. These include the contributions of Voluntary Associations and / or Organizations, party Loyalists and Front liners at the community levels, the numerous online groups and others whose efforts and contributions continue to make our party great. Many of these members of our party should be acknowledged and appreciated and conscious efforts made to reward them.
We also submit that the Opoku Adusei Committee spend some time on the issue of “factions” that nearly marred our efforts to the building a formidable front towards the 2016 elections. This review process presents us with an opportunity to revisit and consider the readmission of the suspended executives of our party for reconciliation, reintegration and to create harmony within and without the party.
Additionally, this review process affords us the prospects to amend certain aspects of the party’s internal electoral processes.
We will recommend a more broader participation through the expansion of our electoral college to include all polling station executives using the 2015 flagbearership elections as a case study. This will give more recognition to our party generals at the polling station level and enhance our democratic credentials.
We wish the Opoku Adusei Committee the very best and look forward to a fruitful engagement with them as we all work together for the advancement and development of our great party.