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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has told members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), that recent history of politics in the country is replete with examples that must be avoided if the party is not to fail.

He recounted intra party fights, especially between leading members of parties in government for various positions, which accelerated and made their loss of power very easy and said “we must learn from history”.

President Akufo-Addo was addressing the Extra-Ordinary National Delegates Conference of the NPP in Kumasi Sunday for a one-item agenda, - to consider some constitutional amendment proposals submitted by party members.

Taking members of the party at the congress down memory lane on recent political history, he recounted the causes of change in power in the Fourth Republic and mentioned infighting among members of ruling parties which made it easier for the opposition to win power.

He commended the national council for passing a resolution that banned MMDCEs, from contesting parliamentary primaries unless they stepped down three years before the elections because the party did not need these MMDCEs to disturb the party at the grassroot from their jobs.

The council had placed same ban on three constituency and regional officers and these were the chairperson, secretaries and treasurers, explaining that this was to replicate the banning on national chairperson, general secretary and treasurer from contesting the presidential candidature, all the way to constituency level.

He said some party members wanted the ban to be extended to all constituency and regional officers and all government appointees and cautioned that this will be a radical measure that needed the support of conference on a duly passed amendment.

Bitter History 

He said since the August 2017 conference in Cape coast, the National Council has acted to restore and preserve the stability of the party at the grassroots level.

He said on all the three occasions that opposition parties had beaten an incumbent president in an election (2000, 2008, and 2016), these were made easier for the opposition for certain reasons.

He said one main contributory factor that made the victory easier for the opposition, was frosty and breakdown of relation between Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Members of Parliament of the ruling party and the constituency chairmen.

He conceded that in 2000, although the country wanted a change of government, it was made easier by the Swedru Declaration by President JJ Rawlings that Prof JEA Mills was going to succeed him and added that the NDC also cashed in on the divisions in the NPP in 2008, when 17 people contested for the presidential primaries.

He said the last one was the infighting in the NDC between the Rawlings-Mahama-Mills elements all in the NDC in 2016 which made it easier for the NPP to win the elections.

Sacred Day

He described the day as a sacred day because it coincided with her late mother’s birthday, Akua Yeboah and expressed the hope that it would be a happy and prosperous day for him.

Government 

He said although the party had chalked some great strides in the area of establishing the Free SHS, revival of the NHIS and injection of momentum, resources and attention to agriculture in the country through the popular Planting for Food and Jobs, all had not been rosy.

He mentioned the issues with Delta and Invisible Forces and the tension among members of the party for job opportunities and added that he appreciated their anxiety and assured them the foundation had been laid.

He explained that it had not been easy because the NDC bequeathed a bankrupt economy but with the ingenuity of his team of ministers, the foundation had been laid and urged the party members to remain united and confident because their government was on the right path.