“I Know the NPP To Diagnose Current Challenges”—–Asabeee Asserts
Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumas.
Former Information Minister and hopeful for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairmanship, Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, asserts that the party requires a leader deeply familiar with its historyĥ and foundational ideals to guide it with superior strategy and approach.
Speaking on two radio stations in Kumasi during a media tour, Mr. Boateng, popularly known as ‘Asabeee,’ emphasized that knowing the party “inside out” enables a “better surgical procedure to make it function better.”
Tracing the NPP’s Roots:
Mr. Boateng traced his involvement back to the days of the revolution, recounting how he became a target of the Rawlings regime.
He mentioned that he had previously worked for that regime, which included physically carrying sacks of cocoa on plantations near border towns.
“After realizing that the Rawlings regime had no plans to return this country to civilian rule, some of us had to challenge the regime to do exactly that,” Asabeee disclosed.
The Fight for Constitutional Rule:
Mr. Asamoah Boateng detailed the strenuous efforts to compel Rawlings toward a return to constitutional governance, efforts that resulted in him and his colleagues becoming targets for imprisonment.
He recounted that military officers were detailed to pursue them, as the regime viewed them as threats to its authority.
This persecution, he noted ultimately forced them to seek refuge outside Ghana.
“I believe our decision to flee Ghana gave us the opportunity to regroup and plan for the setting up of the NPP so we could participate in the political governance of Ghana immediately after the British and others successfully pressured Rawlings to restore constitutional rule,” Mr. Boateng reflected.
The Intent to Restore Discipline:
Mr. Asamoah Boateng stated that his quest to become National Chairman stems from a strong desire to restore the party to the original principles that guided its formation.
He noted that the NPP was founded on the belief in discipline and the rigorous upholding of internal rules and regulations by its members.
The National Chairman hopeful stressed that since internal discipline is now a pressing issue threatening the party’s unity, it is imperative that someone with his background and understanding be entrusted with the leadership position to streamline the behavior and conduct of members.
“I represent the leader who knows the make-up of the party, including the ideals the party cherished in its formative years. Together, we can retrace our steps to abiding by those ideals in the forward march to rebuilding, restructuring, and forging a solid party front to recapture political power in 2028,” Mr. Boateng emphasized.
