Robert Kutin
The re-election bid of Robert Kutin Jnr as Central Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has received a major boost.
At a get-together at Assin Jakai recently, key grassroots members of the party, executives, Members of Parliament (MPs), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), as well as bigwigs in the region overwhelmingly endorsed the re-election bid of Mr Kutin.
He is credited for leading the party to defeat then ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2016 general elections.
Under the leadership of Chairman Kutin, the NPP was able to capture 19 of the 23 seats in the region – including seats the NPP has never won since 1992 when Ghana returned to constitutional rule such as Ekumfi and Twifi Atti Mokwa.
The NPP previously had seven parliamentary seats with Mr Kutin’s leadership snatching 12 from the NDC.
He has pledged to increase the NPP tally if re-elected – a message that has resonated well with the grassroots members and delegates of the party.
In all, about 1,000 party faithful at the grassroots level, constituency executives and key party stalwarts like Acting Chairman Freddy W. Blay, Ag General Secretary John Boadu, ministers of state, MPs such as Kennedy Ohene Agyapong of Assin Central, honoured Chairman Kutin’s invitation.
The dignitaries took turns to acknowledge the unparalleled achievements of Mr Kutin regarding the tremendous turnaround of the fortunes of the NPP in the region.
They also commended him for empowering and equipping polling stations, electoral areas and constituency campaign teams, which resulted in the transformation of the party in the region.
The party members unanimously expressed the fear that the NPP’s unprecedented achievement during Election 2016 could be compromised if the mandate of Chairman Kutin was not renewed.
Addressing the gathering, he presented his welfare agenda for party members, particularly constituency executives, electoral area coordinators and polling station executives.
“The welfare of party executives will be a major priority and that will be so conscientiously discharged in all magnanimity to ensure that both constituency and grassroots executives are adequately resourced and empowered to have the sound mind to continue sacrificing for the fortunes of the party,” he stated.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who also greatly supported the funding of the NPP’s 2016 campaign, praised Chairman Kutin’s leadership qualities and asked that he be retained.
He implored party executives to reward hard work, loyalty, commitment and achievement and resist any tendencies of being deceived by people who are only poised to buy votes to win elections just to occupy positions to serve their parochial interests.
The Central Regional Majority Caucus of Parliament – comprising 19 MPs – together with the 20 MMDCEs, also unanimously endorsed the candidature of Chairman Kutin.
Messrs Freddie Blay and John Boadu also commended Mr Kutin for his efforts and said they were optimistic he would be retained on April 22 at the regional delegates’ congress.