Freddie Blay and one of the buses
Aspiring National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, has fulfilled his promise to supply 275 buses to all constituencies in the country to aid in the running of the party’s activities at the grassroots level.
The buses, worth over $11 million, were received at the Golden Jubilee Terminal of the Tema Port yesterday for onward distribution to the various constituencies, dispelling criticism that it could not be achieved.
Chairman Blay, who led the NPP to victory in 2016 after the suspension of Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong, promised to supply the constituencies with buses to make them financially self-sufficient.
The 275 Toyota Hiace buses imported from Japan through a bank facility were handed over to the Blay Campaign Team by the agent.
Naysayers said the promise was an attempt to hoodwink delegates of the party.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, which attracted hundreds of party supporters, Richard Nyamah, spokesperson for Team Blay, explained that the buses would be operated by State Transport Company (STC) on behalf of all the constituencies for maximum profit and repayment.
“Freddie and his partners took loan to purchase the buses worth over $11 million, thereby STC would manage the buses and part of the money will service the loan and the remaining monies would be given to the party to be used by the constituency executives for party activities.”
“Each constituency is likely to get over four buses after servicing the loan within two years and in every six months we hope for another fleet. This will ensure that the party gets money always for party activities whether in opposition or government. This is the same bus STC uses for business, so Freddie Blay has honoured his promise to the party.”
He said the supply of the buses is a business model the acting Chairman of NPP is introducing to politics in the country to make political parties self-dependent to strengthen democracy.
He dismissed reports that the donation of the buses was geared towards influencing the delegates to vote for him.
“Chairman Blay made this promise and several others to all the constituencies in this country. This is a business model he thinks political parties should emulate going forward if we are to strengthen our democracy. Parties should not depend on government when they come to power, they should be self-financing, they should go into business and this is one of them. This is the transport model.
Hotel Business
He disclosed that Mr. Blay would soon introduce the Tourism model, among others, in the near future for the party to venture into the hotel industry to raise money to fund the activities of the political party.
“Mr. Blay, being a visionary, intends to make the party better and financially strong with other businesses like political parties internationally,” he stated.
According to him, every constituency would soon receive funds to manage the party.
Some party members, who were at the port during the unveiling, commended the chairman for fulfilling his promise.
“This is the chairman we want, Chairman Blay for real, doubting Thomas should come and see, Freddie Blay all the way,” they chanted.
“Mr. Blay has shown that he’s a man of his word so he deserves our support to take the party higher.”
It would be recalled that Mr. Blay, the current acting National Chairman of the party, in his campaign message, promised delegates and members of the party that he would procure 275 buses for the party.
The 275 buses promised by Freddie Blay, under his One Constituency, One Bus agenda, are not meant to bribe delegates or influence their voting pattern.
My Blay said, “Whether I win or lose, giving the buses is something I am committed to doing.’
The acting National Chairman yesterday told the host of ‘Kokrokoo,’ Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace Fm that he’s ready to serve the NPP and the nation.
He stressed that the buses are part of a carefully thought out strategy by him, partners and advisers to finance and resource the constituencies.
According to him, the 275 buses would be allocated to a competent transport company that would manage them for profit.
He added that the profit would be used to repay the facility, pay the transport company and another portion put into the accounts of the various constituencies.
He called on the party’s delegates to vote massively for him to become the substantive chairman to fulfill other promises.
Meanwhile, the NPP National Delegates’ Conference will be held in Koforidua in the Eastern Region on Saturday, July 7, 2018.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema