By Victor Owusu
Introduction:
The criss-crossing of the country by the Ten Presidential Aspirants wanting to become the flag bearer for the party come 2024 General Elections has undoubtedly energised the party at all levels. That is a good thing.
It is in times like this that certain developments that took place in the formative period of the party should be told for the benefit of those who do not know, particularly the young ones who now find themselves in positions of responsibility in the party and more importantly for the benefit of the general public.
THE YOUNG PATRIOTS
The Young Patriots was founded in Kumasi by the late Asante Kotoko footballer, Opoku Afriyie. The immediate objective of the Young Patriots was to assist the New Patriotic Party to contest and win the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections of the First Fourth Republican General Elections in 1992. It is to be noted that the Young Patriots was a financial support group for the NPP in the Ashanti Region.
The Executives of the Young Patriots was made up of Mr. Joe Owusu Ansah (Studio 88) as Chairman, the late Ben Osei Kuffour (Former M.P Asunafo) as Secretary, Kwadwo Sarkodie (Sawn Timber Merchant Anloga) as Treasure, the late kwabena Sarfo (Jabas) as Organiser and other.
With a membership of over seventy people (see attachment), the Young Patriots was made up of people who cut across the Kumasi Society and typical of a Kumasi group many of them were mutual friends.
The meeting place of the group was Queen’s Palace Hotel at Kwadaso “Nsuomu” close to 4BN and Prempeh College.
The Young Patriots Supported the New Patriotic Party in diverse ways. The Regional Party Secretariat often made requests to the Young Patriots for assistance as shown underneath.
THE YOUNG PATRIOTS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The Young Patriots is a political pressure group of the young professional and business executives committed to the promotion of private enterprise and a free market economy in Ghana.
VISION STATEMENT
Our vision of the future is Ghanaian society that guarantees equal opportunity and prosperity for all and where individual freedoms are recognised and safeguarded.
MISSION STATEMENT
To create a dynamic, highly motivated group of young professionals dedicated to the building of a capable political leadership committed to the realisation of our vision statement.
IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE
To assist the New Patriotic Party to contest and win the presidential and parliamentary elections to the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
STRATEGIES
1. To gather and consolidate ideas and information and to assist the party secretariat in the formulation of party policy and political agenda at all times.
2. To actively activate recruit into the membership of the party, eligible voters who will vote N.P.P. into power.
3. To actively participate and maintain a conspicuous profile an influence in all party activities at the ward and constituency levels throughout the Ashanti Region.
4. To contribute materials and human resources to the New Patriotic Party at all time.
5. To identify and propose to the party leadership suitable individuals as potential candidates capable of taking the N.P.P to victory in the parliamentary elections. We will also give our unflinching support, financially and materially to ensure Prof. AduBoahen‘s victory in the presidential elections.
6. To forge and promote closer collaboration with other interest groups within the party. eg. The youth and the women’s wings.
7. To educate and inform voters on the aims and objectives of the N.P.P.
8. To establish various committees to ensure that decisions taken by members are promptly and effectively implemented.
The Young Patriots will be best remembered for its financial support to the party when it donated an amount of Three Million, Three Hundred Thousand Old Ghana Cedis (GH¢3.3m) for the purpose of election related expenses on the 3rd of November, 1992.
This Amount today, translated into Three Thousand and Three Hundred Ghana Cedis. Obviously, the Value CANNOTbe the same. The donation was big money at that time (1992). It was from a fund-raising Dinner Dance organized by the group at the then City Hotel.
It is instructive to note and be left it be known that this amount was shared among the Thirty-Three Constituencies in the Ashanti Region based on the number of wards in each constituency to take care of polling station agents.
The 1992 Campaign was Self-Sponsored by the Parliamentary Candidates themselves and the Regional Party machinery was on the largesse of the late Dr. Harry Poku, the first Regional Chairman of the Party, the late Mr. Maxwell Owusu, a financial support pillar of the party, Mr. Amo-Bediako, Nana Kofi Genfi (Nurom Hotel, the Hatman), Mr. Kofi Genfi Bikkai, Mr. Akenten Appiah-Menka and Dr. Dsane-Selby; (all deceased).
Therefore, the donation by Young Patriots was huge relief to the Regional Party Secretariat.
Unfortunately, The Young Patriots folded up after the 1992 General Elections. This was due to threats of arrests and arrests that were effected after the elections of some members of the NPP which frightened some of its members and more so because the euphoria generated by the elections after a over a decade of Non Partisan Political activities had died down.
The loss of the Presidential Elections of 1992 by the NPP (the Stolen Verdict) had shattered the hopes of many of its members who were experiencing Political Party Activities for the first time.
Apress conference conveyed by the Ashanti Regional NPP speaks about the arrests that were carried out by the PNDC in Ashanti after the elections.
Conclusion:
On a very sad note, when Opoku Afriyie, the Founder of The Young Patriots died on the 28th March, 2020, not a whimper was heard from the New Patriotic Party.
