STEPHEN NTIM, PERFECT CHAIRMAN FOR NPP

The New Patriotic Party haven reached another milestone in its existence as a rallying point for the management of the ten regions that constitute the Ghana’s geo-political regions. The thunderous ovation that greeted the announcement of Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo’s intent after a meeting with those that matter, and the counter press conference by the General Secretary of the over promising and under delivering National Democratic Congress is an ample indication of the ‘nanaphobia’ amongst  them.

For us, it is a pointer to the fact that the decision, of the visionary and hard working Nana to pilot the affairs of a country that has been plunge into the hallmark of failed states enjoyed a wide acceptance. Even the usually critical minds could not help but applaud the decision, because he a man they know has already proved his mettle as a quality leader.

To us, haven gone pass the hurdle of selecting our flagbearer, the task ahead is to get competent national executive to think out of the box and stop the gross repetition and implementation of old tactics.

If not John Mahama and his election rigging machine may unlikely win 2016, whether team ‘B’ ministers or not, Gyeeda or not, Ministerial scandals or not, Isofoton or Northern and Volta antagonism or not, our vote or not, Dumso or not, it could be ‘kwasia bi nti’.

Our thoughts is based on first, if power generation in Ghana increases in 2016 or early 2015, Mahama it is for many people. Why? Many of our people assert and agree that 50% of our problem will be solved if power generation increases significantly. I don't know if it's true or not but majority do because the possibility of that happening under this dispensation has never crossed my mind. Nevertheless, a lot of people agree that selling off our power assets to private hands will move it forward.

Second, there is a chance that NDC may not get their acts together in time for the election. Let’s not consider the fact that day-by-day they look more and more like they are in a candy shop. By ‘acts’ we mean decide the right leaders that will that charge for victory. There is the question; will the leaders appeal to the masses? We all know how we have struggled to add a region or two to clinch our victory mark. The old debate that a team doing better is not change won't cut it anymore because this team brought us infamy.

 We us a party have men and women doing well too – Ntim, Kwabena etal’ are touted to be on top of their games as well. The likelihood that presenting the Ghanaian with a fresh face will dazzle them into queuing behind the opposition, for us, is high.

I asked my colleague, how many former campaign manager voters did they find on the queue when they voted in 2012? The answer is ‘very insignificant.’ How many party pickups they saw? This has always been the challenge of elections in New Patriotic Party – the people, who claim to be enlightened sit at home on election,

Over time, we’ve been deeply moved by the speech and comments of Stepen Ntim which had served as inspiration and hope for a party that is hungry for power to empower the youth. Given the political wilderness that our  party and population has been trapped for years under John and John, the sense of hope and inspiration generated by Ntim on his campaign tour, is even more profound today. Public service and politics in Ghana are dominated by professional politicians who are in the business for their own personal gain and power. The time has come to recognize that someone has a special ability to ignite or reignite faith and belief in ourselves, to capture our vision, imagination, and our highest ideals that New Patriotic Party could be a great party.

At a time when our party is bankrupt of patriotic leaders, when a person with such a rare patriotism comes along, we need to put aside our ethnic and godfather politics and embrace such a person. We have that kind of person in Ntim. In our opinion, none of the aspiring chairmanship candidates possess the knowledge, experience, strength, passion, patriotism, character, and judgment needed for a change in the leadership of our party like Ntim. He is perfect to be New Patriotic Party Chairman. As a former Vice-Chairman, he had served in various capacities in Haruna Esseku’s administration that won us power in 2004-2008.

New Patriotic Party needs a Chairman who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve same, a Chairman who holds himself and those around him to the highest ethical standards, a Chairman who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our party needs every one of us to get involved, and a Chairman who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in New Patriotic Party, and those around the world who still believe that New Patriotic Party is the giant of Ghanaian Politics.

Like all history, the history of our political enterprise will be defined by change. Change has become imperceptible. At other times, change has been bold and dramatic. Great triumphs and historic firsts highlight pioneer’s foray into any endeavor. Stephen as a national Chairman would provide experience and impetus for a new group of reformers.

Stephen Ntim is not just a member; he is a special talent, well-educated with experience rooted in reform backgrounds with specialized training, lengthy resumes and increasingly elective experience.  Concerning the issues that faced our party, Stephen has become a spokesperson or a “surrogate representative” if you will, for all Party people. His belief in the social, political, and economic equality shaped his thoughts and speeches. 

He has taken on a special burden to speak for all because we have very few people who could express our concerns and fears adequately and boldly like he does. By honing his messages and by cultivating political action network to support his campaign for political reforms, he has become powerful and a force to be reckoned with.

The best single word to describe Ntim’s address to delegates might be the word “passion.” Every pioneer needs a passion. Pioneers cannot be satisfied with mere maintenance, for they have nothing yet to maintain. They create from nothing. The common people often view them as eccentrics – but their passion attracts other pioneers.

Stephen boils with passion and this is evidenced in all his speeches, and could hardly stay quiet on party issues. He has been a catalyst of fiery controversial speeches on our economy, political arrangement, the ruling elite class, government’s malfeasance and profligacy. He feels consumed with Hi mission. He possesses a magnetic temperament and wiring. Like a magnet, he repels some but attracts a huge following. He possesses a strong sense of justice. This hunger of justice drives him – and it shows in her speeches. He feels dissatisfied with anything but action. As a doer, he doesn’t want people to merely talk but act.

His speech to the delegates could be summarized as follows: Leadership means discomfort. If you’re going to be an effective leader, you must live outside your comfort zone. Leadership means dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction is a tool that moves us to greater things and higher ground. Leadership means disruption. The status quo is never the goal of a leader. Disruption is our constant companion.

Our party and country is full of needy people, overflowing with men and women who know they’re missing out on something, bursting with hurting individuals who come to us with hands outstretched. Our hard-working, innovative, and imaginative youth have become hopeless, deflated, and disengaged.

A leader owes it as a solemn duty to protect and provide for the needy and the vulnerable in our society. First time ever in this season of a major dollop of alienation and anomie, I have found someone who inspired me and a new generation of Ghanaian in Stephen Ntim.

 In his characteristic humility, Stephen Ntim has accepted the additional responsibility that would be placed on his shoulders. He has also acknowledged that the task before him “is enormous”. But he remains unfazed by the new responsibility. As a man of courage and wisdom he has assured that he would not be overwhelmed by the task of chairing his people. He has continued to prove it ever since he mounted the saddle of leadership in the party. As a team player he knows that he would not succeed alone and has therefore called for the cooperation of not only his colleagues but every segment of the party should he be coronated.

Yes, Stephen Ntim is a leader who understands and applies the popular aphorism that when a man dreams alone he becomes a dreamer but when he dreams with others he becomes an achiever. His predecessors had enjoyed full cooperation of the party when the headship of the party fell on them. It is noteworthy that the New Patriotic Party operated without rancour and bickering and ego contest that was the case after Dan Botwey now Hon. Daniel Kwaku Botwey. It is therefore expected that such brotherly atmosphere would continue to prevail under the new leadership of Stephen Ntim.

All the centripetal and centrifugal forces tearing New Patriotic Party apart and impeding its growth would disappear. No doubt Ntim would apply his healing balm in making the regions to be united and speak with one voice. Good enough, Ntim has said that he would galvanize the Brong Ahafo and the Western Regions to cooperate with other regions of the country on issues that would promote peace, equity and justice and development of the country, citing the issue of insecurity in the North, East,West ans South. Having placed his hands on the ploughshare of delivering the Brong Ahafo Region, there is no looking back for for any other thing. It therefore behooves on his brother aspirants, the political elites across the country irrespective of tribe, to give maximum support to the chairman Ntim of the NPP to work for Victory, peace, and progress of the party.
 In Stephen Ayensu Ntim, “A great prophet has risen up among us,” and God has visited his people the third time.”

The Bible says in proverbs 29:18 that “where there is no visions the people perish.” This declaration is very true for a generation that has succumbed to unbelievable levels of mediocrity that they sing and dance for leaders who did little and then endlessly justify all the other failings of party.

There are now large agents of mediocrity across Ghana who have made a career from justifying the inexcusable failure of the past and present leaders at all levels and count some mediocre projects as achievements even after some fifty seven years (57) of independence; Ghana is a certified failed country in spite of abundant human and material resources.

Sadly, there abound so many soaked in the muddied waters of mediocrity, willing to applaud and defend leaders in the open glare of colossal failings. Most worrying is the well travelled and educated elite who are now the purveyors, enablers or chief defenders of mediocrity. Ghana is the only country where so called leaders are endlessly praised and celebrated for doing less than 15% of their job even when the 15% is mostly of doubtful quality. This trend is evident all across Ghana as leaders construct several substandard roads, erect some cranky boreholes in a few communities and get treated to dance troupes and praise singers for failing in their job. Same goes for the members of parliament who are toasted and celebrated for patching up a few spots in some badly damaged asphalt roads that continues to kill thousands of victims annually. 

We can however boast that, the New Patriotic Party People have advanced in their minds that they will easily relate with what right and wrong are come April, 12. It is our firm believes that delegates have learnt their lesson and "will not extend nor vote for political neophyte."  The truth is we can’t afford tenure of ineptitude, characterized with misapplication, misappropriation, diversion and holding campaign logistics. Whether your vote will count or not, don’t vote for incompetence.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, it is apparent from street to street; from town unto town the contenders have in attempt to upstage the other hauled various damaging salvos against both real and imagined enemies. We are conversant with the talking’s of Stephen Ntim and ‘the betrayal of a certain agenda 2020’. The question is why should he allow himself to be derailed by backward self seeking cabals? Ntim must chair to put his detractors to standing ovation. For us, the only chairman to protect all aspirants particularly Nana Addo is Mr. Ayensu. Because he has a propaganda and a public perception to exterminate.

It must be borne in mind that successful societies are constructed through the continuous social pressure put on the leadership by a citizenry disposed to holding their leaders accountable. The choice is clear, it is either we emancipate ourselves from the veneration of mediocrity, and put our leaders under enormous pressure to fulfill our aspirations for economic, social and infrastructural development or continue with mediocrity and be consumed by the social violence of a failed dysfunctional nation.

We shall not sit down for any of them to use all forms of subterfuge, lies, intellectual forgeries and even terror to decimate the ranks of our intellectual colleagues and derail the revolution going on in 2016.

Vote number 2, Vote Stephen Ayensu Ntim as next Chairman to lead us to winning power.