Hon. Catherine Afeku, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Women’s Organiser hopeful, has charged members of TESCON to take up the mantle of leadership and serve as the frontliners in the party’s quest to reclaim power in the 2028 elections.
Speaking at the handing-over ceremony of TESCON leaders at the African University College of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra, Madam Afeku declared that the future of the NPP’s resurgence rested heavily on the youth wing, particularly TESCON, under the theme “Change of Baton—Rebuilding, Recapturing and Re-mobilizing TESCON for Victory 2028.”
“I assure you, you will not sit on the bench again. You should be the frontliners, and when the power is won back through your hard work, you should remain at the forefront when it comes to job opportunities, travel opportunities, scholarships and all the benefits deserving of a frontliner,” she emphasized to loud applause.
The former Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture congratulated the outgoing leadership of AUCB TESCON for their service and urged the newly sworn-in executives to seize the moment to etch their names in history.
“For the next twelve months, you will set the tone and carve a path either to be remembered or forgotten. Remember, leaders are not born, they are made, so carve your niche,” Madam Afeku advised.
Sharing what she described as “nuggets of advice” for the new leaders, she emphasized the importance of listening, tolerance, firmness, and teamwork.
“As you take the mantle of leadership, the most critical lesson is listening. Hone this skill and you will be remembered as one of the greats,” she noted.
She also urged the new executives to embrace divergent views, cautioning that there is a thin line between democracy and autocracy. “When you lead, you will have the final say, but do all possible to inculcate the views of others, especially those who may seem to oppose your ideas. Not all of it will be in your favour, but something good may be hidden in the critique,” she advised.
According to Madam Afeku, firmness in leadership was crucial. “A leader who flips and flops will be forgotten, but a firm leader leaves a legacy,” she stated.
Drawing an analogy from football, she encouraged them to be team players and coaches who guide, correct and discipline their team members with love.
Turning her attention to the party’s prospects, Madam Afeku was optimistic that the NPP could reclaim power if it rallied its youth and women. She pointed to what she described as the “wobbling start” of the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, stating that it offered the NPP an opportunity to rebuild and remobilize effectively.
“You can all attest to the wobbling start in their first 100 days. It gives hope that if we get our house in order, we can recapture power. It will require a united front, a spirit of forgiving one another, and the courage to fight again with ideas,” she stressed.
Madam Afeku, who officially declared her intention to contest for the position of National Women’s Organiser when nominations are opened, said her track record in the party spoke for itself.
“It is the kind of decisive, bold and firm leadership that I exemplify, that I expect of those of you who are taking the baton today,” she said, receiving cheers from the audience.
She ended her address with a rallying call: “Let us rally around the elephant and bring it back home — with our youth, women and most especially our frontliners gathered here today.”
