Abanga
An aspiring National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party, Abanga Fusani Yakubu, has downplayed criticisms that his campaign promises are over ambitious and not feasible, saying realistic and innovative policies are what would help the party break the eight years’ governance cycle.
According to NPP Abanga, as Mr Abanga is affectionately called, his promises are borne out of well-thought-out plans to wean the youth wing from dependence on the mother party and make it a world class independent wing.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Statesman, Mr Abanga stated that “the New Patriotic Party remains the most credible party with the ability to effectively govern this country and deliver a better future for it.”
“However, we cannot become complacent and must be unrelenting in our efforts to ensure our re-election and the delivery of a clear parliamentary majority in the 2024 general election, hence the need for a vibrant youth wing,” he added.
Policies
Mr Abanga has promised to restructure the youth wing through the establishment of constituency youth wing secretariats and appointment of diaspora coordinator. He has also promised to establish campaign organs at the national youth secretariat. The organs would include campaign command centre; logistics mobilization and resource unit, research unit and data warehousing and youth empowerment.
He has also promised to rebrand and retool the party’s students wing, the Tertiary Students Confederacy of the NPP (TESCON-NPP). He seeks to do this through a monthly support of GHC5000 to each TESCON institution; establish an association of TESCON patrons and TESCON alumni; adopt a TESCON institution policy and establish a TESCON think tank. A product of TESCON himself, he has promised to enhance membership registration drive, promote national service posting quota system, seek permanent employment for TESCON executives and integrate former TESCON executives into the job market.
For regional and constituency youth organisers, he has promised an alternative source of funding for the youth wing through entrepreneurship; one constituency one public address system; comprehensive welfare scheme (life assurance) and enhanced communication.
His contenders have poo-pooed his policies, claiming they do not look feasible. But according to him, all his policies are realistic and intended to change the face of the youth wing.
“The political awareness of young people and their accompanying urge to chart a desirable future for themselves has made the youth a critical constituency in the determination of elections.
“To break the eight, our party needs to direct great volumes of effort to counter the barrage of misinformation and propaganda that opposition forces will use in an attempt to coerce the youth and discredit the party’s governance track record. It will also require the development of a clear understanding of youth needs and concerns, and the development of effective and sustainable policy initiatives to meet these needs and concerns. This will require a grand mobilization of the youth of our party to work towards winning the votes of their compatriot youth,” he said.
About Abanga
Abanga Yakubu Fuseini has not only proven himself as a leader but has consciously developed his abilities through training and indirect apprenticeship in both the academic and the political spheres. Academically, he is currently holding a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Cardiff Metropolitan University in the UK and has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Archaeology from the University of Ghana. He has a Certificate in Forensic Psychology and Corporate Security; Certificate in Administration and Management, and Certificate in Law and Governance from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). He is also a project management professional.
He is a former organizer of TESCON at the University of Ghana and served as a member of the National TESCON Campaign team in the 2016 general election. He was also a member of the Western North Regional Campaign team and a member of the planning committees of various pro-NPP demonstrations ahead of the 2016 general election, including the famous ‘Dumsor Must Stop’ Vigil, Let My Vote Count Alliance demonstration, and WONGBO demonstration. He was also a member of the Greater Accra Regional campaign committee (operations) team.
Ahead of the 2020 general elections, he contested the party’s parliamentary primaries in the Aowin Constituency, losing narrowly to the eventual winner.
His quest to serve the party is eminent in his support for party members and party projects and has so far secured over 200 educational scholarships and over 250 job placement for the youth across the country.
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