NPP stalwart Bright Essilfie Kumi has filed his nomination to contest the National 1st Vice Chairman position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the National Delegates Conference scheduled for October 3 in Kumasi.
Speaking after filing at the party headquarters, Kumi urged delegates to look beyond popularity and choose leaders with concrete solutions to the party’s current challenges.
“We should not just be deceived by the popular acclamation of who is bringing crowds, which is organized. We should focus on who actually is telling us how we intend to solve the problem we are in, because without good leadership, we can never come to power,” he cautioned.
“And Dr. Bawumia is destined to come in 2028, so it takes you, the delegate, to select the right person.”
A Founding Member Of Nasara
Introducing himself, the aspirant traced his roots in the party.
“My name is Bright Essilfie Kumi. I’m a strong member of the party. I joined the party in 1996. I’m a member of the founders of Nasara, and I have tirelessly worked for the party from that time to now.”
He recounted his previous attempts at national leadership, saying his motivation has never been personal gain.
“I contested for National Youth Organizer in 2018. I contested for National Organiser in 2022. It didn’t work, but it is not as though there is any salary to go and take, or any opportunity to go and grab, but just the service to serve the party to make sure the party sustains power, or the party is strong enough for us to even have the position to contest.”
60 Seats Deficit And Leadership Crisis
Kumi described the party’s current situation as unprecedented in the Fourth Republic and called for active, strategic leadership.
“What problems we have has never happened in the history of the Fourth Republic. We need about 60 seats in order to keep up with policy formulation and approval in Parliament in case we are in power. In 2028, Dr. Bawumia is coming to power, whether anybody likes it or not. And once he is coming to power, we need Parliament to balance.”
“You don’t need any armchair executive or inactive executive. You need all active citizens to actually go out there. The loss that we attracted, which was very abysmal, has been because of leadership, leadership problem. Because it is the leader who projects to know what can happen based on what assessment you do now.”
Call For Forgiveness And Unity
The aspirant made a passionate appeal to aggrieved members to forgive and reunite.
“I am talking to all our party members, those who are angry, those who feel they have not been treated fairly. Let’s forgive. Let’s come together. We cannot come together without motivation.”
He urged delegates to vote with the party’s future in mind, not monetary inducements.
“I am pleading with everybody and pleading with the delegates, not to go because somebody gave you something huge, that’s why you are selecting him. But to think about the party first, because the party has a problem. Taking 60 seats from a party in power with control over security, control over EC, control over resources, which is NDC, you need leaders who can really map out policy lines and strategy to achieve that aim.”
“We are winning 2028. We said break the eight. We are breaking the eight. We will not allow them to go to eight. That is what break the eight means. So we are breaking it.”
He concluded by stressing the need for substance over age or popularity.
“At this point we don’t need just popular leaders. At this point we don’t need just old men, old women. We need strategic leaders who can deliver victory for Dr. Bawumia and for the NPP.”
