Ntim calls for fair play

Stephen Ntim is a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of Ghana


By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday February 23, 2010
Stephen Ntim, the 51-year-old systems engineer who is vying for the national chairmanship position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has officially closed his campaign, with a call on other aspirants to ensure a competitive race by playing by the rules.

Thirty four candidates, according to media reports, have filed their nominations to contest for eight executive positions at the party’s congress, which is slated for Kumasi this weekend.

The positions include the National Chairman, First Vice Chairman, Second Vice Chairman, General Secretary, National Organiser, Youth Organiser, Women’s Organiser and National Treasurer.

At a news conference in Accra yesterday to announce the end of his campaign, Mr. Ntim, who contested the position and lost to Peter Mac Manu in 2005 said, “the beginning of the battle comes with the election of a dynamic national chairman. I have interacted with the delegates and they have assured me of their votes because they believe that I will lead the NPP to victory in 2012.”

Mr. Ntim said his campaign had focused on restoring hope, unity and respect for the constitution of the party, adding, “We must all remain neutral as we strive to elect members of the national executives and ultimately our flagbearer.”

“For now our mission as a party is to put our house in order to ensure a resounding victory over the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2012. The essence of our efforts is to have a strong leadership, which will transform this vision into reality. We should therefore conduct ourselves in a manner that would ensure a successful conference so that every delegate would be satisfied.”

Mr. Ntim, who was the First National Vice-Chairman of the party from 2001 to 2005, said if given the nod, he would ensure that all disputes within the party are settled.

“I would be prepared to go the constituency level to kneel down before the youth organizer for the sake of unity in the party,” he stressed.

He said he was not aware that anybody or groups were working against his candidature, noting, “I am not being supported by President Kufuor, but I am a team player who is prepared to sacrifice for the NPP to wrestle power from the NDC.”

Mr. Ntim called on supporters to respect the party’s constitution, saying that “anything short of that will bring problems to the party. I will ensure strict enforcement of the constitution.

Mr. Ntim said the NPP was losing its grip on the Brong Ahafo Region because the party had not worked hard enough, assuring that under his leadership, the party would reclaim its lost glory in the region.

“I am calling for a political tree planting, especially in the northern part of the region to push further into the strongholds of the NDC. I want people to judge me not by my age but what I can do, my track record and effectiveness. Delegates must vote for a national chairman who will protect the interest of the NPP,” Mr. Ntim reiterated.

Commenting on the NDC’s style of governance, Mr. Ntim said, “We are all aware of the challenges that we face as a country due to the mistake that we made by voting the NDC to power. It is up to us to work hard to vote out the NDC in 2012 so that Ghanaians can once again heave a sigh of relief.

“There is economic hardship, astronomical increase in the prices of basic commodities, increase in tax regimes and an attempt to re-introduce the culture of silence by the NDC.”

He also condemned the arrest and detention of Nana Darkwa Baafi and commended the NPP Members of Parliament (MPs) for standing up against what he terms as an ‘attack on free speech.’

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