The former Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Seth Acheampong, has appealed to all stakeholders and participants of the New Patriotic Party’s Presidential Primaries to be measured in the activities to ensure that the party remains united in the aftermath of the contest.
The former regional minister emphasized the necessity of unity to propel the party into a new paradigm beyond the primaries, where they can present a presidential candidate and the party itself to Ghanaians in a way that preaches unity, hope, and a worthy alternative.
He made the point that inasmuch as aspirants and their followers may believe in divergent ideologies and have different perspectives, it is important to respect the perspectives that do not align with yours.
Hon. Acheampong also emphasized that these divergent perspectives are what are reflected in the notion of choices as is underpinned in a democracy like Ghana’s. The reason he believes that “democracy is a wonderful enterprise for Ghana to pursue.”
He further noted that one does not have to believe another’s perspective in order to appreciate it; rather, you just have to respect others’ opinions even when such opinions do not reflect yours.
Weighing in on Hon. Kennedy Agyapong’s comment that he will not concede until the Electoral Commission pronounces the final results, he made the point that that was Hon. Agyapong perceives.
He argued that other aspirants may have contrary perspectives on the same issue, but the most important thing is for them to focus on preaching their respective views to the delegates in a manner that allows them to defend their utterances in the future.
“Make sure that for what we are doing, we are able to come and defend ourselves anytime we say something. I am not able to defend everything that people say. But I am able to defend what I say. What I will say is that I love unity. And I want some level of stability with our exercise. And that can only come when we are measured in what we are doing.”
Seth Acheampong, Former Eastern Regional Minister.
Hon. Acheampong further made the point that aspirants will only be able to defend their utterances in the future if they are measured in their activities, which he thinks will make it easy to unite the party after the primaries.
Re-evaluation: A Force For Rebuilding
The former minister, who served under the leadership of Former President, Nana Addo-Danquah Akuffo Addo, noted that given the views Ghanaians have expressed about their administration, there is the need for the party to do a proper re-evaluation of their leadership.
He admitted that his engagement with the public revealed to him how Ghanaians do not have pleasant memories of their administration.
“Walking around, I have come to realize that people were not happy with our administration. Because I have gone out, and I have spoken to people. I have had the opportunity to sit before people, and the way they expressed themselves to me gave me a second thought that we have to do some evaluation.”
Seth Acheampong, Former Eastern Regional Minister.
He further stated how he has observed some of the aspirants, including Hon. Agyapong and Dr. Bawumia, among others, at the campaigns, outlining their initiatives for the rebuilding of the party, which he thinks is the right way to go.
He, however, made the point that the rebuilding process cannot be devoid of unity, for that is the one thing that will keep the party together.
“That is my call. Anytime I get the opportunity, I want to preach to my people that we require unity to become a force that people would recognize. If we are divided, we will not be the force people are looking for to be the alternative to this administration.”
– Seth Acheampong, Former Eastern Regional Minister.
For Hon. Acheampong, the rebuilding of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is hinged on ensuring party unity. This, he says, is very crucial and must be the message during this period of campaigns. He then called on aspirants to be measured in their activities and respect divergent views.
READ ALSO: Energy Minister Applauds BOST, Urges Infrastructural Expansion
