Alan Kyerematen promises to modernise NPP
New Patriotic Party presidential hopeful Alan KwadwoKyerematen has promised to modernise the party if given the mandate by delegates at the presidential primary later in the year.
Mr Kyerematen, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, hinted at establishing platforms that could generate resources to pay party executives to allow them concentrate on party duties and responsibilities.
Having served as a Minister for over 10 years, in both the Kufuor and Akufo-Addo administrations, he said that he would put in place a pension scheme for party executives who devoted their entire life to serving it.
Speaking in Kumasi, on his three-day campaign tour Mr Kyerematen did not mince words in highlighting the need for funding party projects and motivating party officials and executives.
“There should be a platform and programmes for party financing. I have the record to have set up the Constituency Business Ventures in the past, that is your way to strengthening the party,” the aspirant said.
On party executives at the constituency and national level, he suggested a salary structure for them that would enable them to concentrate on party issues.
He also suggested a pension scheme for committed and full-time party executives to motivate others.
“Full-time party executives must be on full salary to enable them to devote more attention to party work.
There will be a pension scheme to retired party executives who devote all their time to working for the NPP,” the former Trade and Industry Minister added.
“The focus should be on the party because it is the party that brings the government into power,” Mr Kyerematen said.
He said a lot more attention should be paid to concerns of foot soldiers and other workers of the party who worked tirelessly to get the party into power and are then neglected with no benefits to show for their efforts.
This trend, he said, should stop in order to build a strong and mass party to win elections in the future.
Mr Kyerematen had carved a niche for himself as an industrial expert and was highly regarded globally as a consultant on international trade and industry matters.
The longest serving Trade and Industry Minister has already confirmed his readiness to contest as flagbearer in the upcoming NPP presidential primaries, anticipated to be fiercely contested, later in the year. —GNA
