Mr Sammy Crabbe, who is known for his boundless business energy is vying for the post of Greater Accra Regional NPP chairman. He told ADM in an exclusive interview that his aim is to "re-engineer the party to win more parliamentary seats come elections 2008".

Mr. Crabbe who stated that the Greater Accra NPP is in relegation because it lacks focus and vibrant leadership is leading six others who are contesting six different positions during the regional congress next month.

The six are Mr Amoah Awuah, aspiring first vice-chairman who is a government appointee on AMA, Madam Vivian Garshong, aspiring second vice-chair person, and Mr Albert Afaglo, aspiring organiser. Others are Mr Boye Laryea, aspiring treasurer, Madam Mariama Amui, aspiring women organiser and Alhaji Yusif Ahmed, aspiring youth organiser.

Mr Crabbe said he sees the Greater Accra NPP as a business venture which has collapsed and he is bringing his expertise to bear on the regional party. "It (NPP) is a viable franchise that can be turned around to become stable," he said.

He said since the former chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, abdicated his position to Mr R.O Solomon, who is the current first vice chairman, the regional office is being run as a one-man business. He said he would develop a succession plan, as he is known for in the corporate world "so that the youth could take over. That is what the world is all about. I would never sit at one place for a long time and deny other people the opportunity to put things forward."

He said: "I am coming to turn things around, stabilize it and walk away. That is the mark of a true leader; a true leader is not one who sits at one place for a long time. A leader must have a vision and as part of the vision train people to succeed him."

He said currently the regional structure of the party is not working because the party office has been unofficially moved to the house of Mr Solomon. A system, he explained, must be created to serve as a common place for all executives to work and share ideas but not to a place that "the party would be subservient to one person."

When the ADM visited the regional party offices at Makola it was nothing to write home about. The paint had worn-off, spider webs were hanging in every corner of the building making the place look like a haunted house. The air conditioning system had broken down as well. Mr Crabbe said the dream of his prospective executive is to relocate the offices of the regional office to a conducive place devoid of noise. "We would then give this one to the Odododiodoo constituency as their constituency office," he said.

Mr Crabbe said he is contesting the regional chairmanship position to restore the dignity and to change the perception of the foot soldiers whom he described as shareholders who brought the party to power that they "have been left out and that people at the top are enjoying."

He said he is bringing "a leadership that would focus on the people and invest in the individual. This would make them economically sufficient, and be able to contribute financially and physically to help the party retain power in 2008. I do not believe the present leadership especially the top led by R.O Solomon has what it takes."

He said when he wins he would rally the executive to establish economic ventures in at least all the 27 constituencies within Greater Accra to create jobs for the people.

He denied statements that he has no track record in politics because he said "during the Danquah-Busia days I was around and that was what metamorphosed into NPP in 1991. I was part of the Greater Accra executive council of the Alliance for Change with Adjiri Blankson and others. So I have been involved in party politics for a long time."

Mr. Crabbe's venture into the race has brought some excitement into the otherwise dull race of the ruling party's Greater Accra Region offices.

In the heartland of the NPP, the Ashanti Region, Mr. Ayisi-Boateng has stepped into the chairmanship race and from reports reaching ADM, he is also galvanizing the race with his exuberance, enthusiasm and freshness of ideas. Mr. Ayisi-Boateng is best known in the Garden City for his spirited defence of the NPP on the city's FM stations.

At the time of going to press yesterday, Mr. Mac Manu, the man widely expected to be the next National Chairman of the NPP was intensifying his campaign. Rumours had been circulating that he was being "pressurized" to step down for Mr. Ntim, another contestant. Yesterday, he and his campaign team told an ADM source that they were going the full hog to the congress and were confident of carrying the day and so there was no room for stepping down.