NPP is not an elitist party - Paul Afoko

Chairman of The New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko has said his party is in the process of outlining various strategies that would enable them meet the everyday needs of party members at the grass-roots level. He said this during the launch of an electronic membership card for its verified members.

The introduction of the new card is to strengthen the party’s membership drive as well as secure election victory for the party in 2016.

The electronic card system will also enable members to promptly pay their dues as well as donate and support the party.

The system, which combines an individual’s personal and financial data, will ensure electronic payment of goods and services by members of the party.

Speaking at a media interaction yesterday, the National Chairman of the party, Mr Paul Afoko, said the introduction of this friendly membership card would meet the everyday needs of party members at the grass-roots level and had demonstrated the fact that the NPP was owned by the grass roots, contrary to the view that it is an elitist party.

He also said the registration for the card, which could be done online or through vendors at the constituency and electoral area level, was free.

He said the new card,  which would propel the party onto the future political landscape of the country was a precursor of  the digital age the party intended to introduce into the country when mandated by Ghanaians to rule it in 2016.

Mr. Afoko added that activities at the constituency level have often been threatened due to the absence of a database to serve as reference to authenticate claims and track contributions

He said the new database would not only provide the details of executives at the constituency level but also of every registered member at the grass-roots level.

The constituencies, he said, were therefore to use the database to monitor dues payment, target financiers as well as seek volunteers for local activities.

Other features of the new membership card include dissemination of information to members, as well as for sending donations and birthday greetings, all aimed at  ensuring a computer-savvy youth.

He added, however, that request for a new membership card attracted a fee of GH¢8.00; the party received GH¢3.00 while GH¢ 5.00 went to cover the cost of printing the membership card.

The General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, who  would manage the card system, said the system had been studied by IT experts and found to be an effective platform with strong security features that could not be hacked.

He said the card had all the features of a modern political party that uses technology for grass-roots mobilisation.

Those present at the media briefing were the second Vice-Chairman, Mr Sammy Crabbe, some constituency chairmen and parliamentary candidates of the party.