Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has asked constituency chairmen of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to remain united and not indulge in anything that will divide the party.

Remaining united, he said, would make it possible for the party to be strategically positioned to retain power in 2024.

He stated that it was only by retaining power that the NPP would be able to continue with its good work to make life better for Ghanaians.

Dr Bawumia made the call in an address read on his behalf by a former National First Vice-Chairman of the party, Mr Fred Oware, at the inauguration of a seven-member steering committee for the constituency welfare fund and workshop in Koforidua last Saturday.

The meeting, which was on the theme: "Motivating the Base, the role of the party," brought together constituency chairmen from all the 275 constituencies throughout the country to deliberate on their welfare.

The fund is to be generated through monthly contributions by constituency chairmen to be later extended to other party officials.

Members

According to the Vice-President, the constituency chairmen had taken a laudable initiative and called for the roping in of polling station executives of the NPP in order to generate enough funds to cater for many members in distress.

Dr Bawumia, who indicated that he would contribute to the fund, said there were many members who had been working tirelessly for the party at the base.

The National Chairman of the party, Mr Freddie Blay, said he was excited about the establishment of the welfare fund and indicated that it had come at the right time to cater for the needs of its members and called for its sustainability.

The National Organiser of the party, Mr Sammy Awuku, said he was worried about the use of funeral grounds as a platform to campaign for the party's flag-bearer position and called for an end to such a campaign.

The Chairman of the NPP Constituency Officers Welfare Group, Dr Godfred Akyea-Darkwah, explained that the fund would welcome contributions of the base in order to reduce dependency of the party on government.

Party's constitution

A former Energy Minister, Mr Boakye Agyarko, said it was necessary to take good care of party members, stressing that "the party must also understand the needs of the people.”

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, some of the constituency chairmen expressed their appreciation for the institution of the welfare fund which they said could cater for their medical needs.