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Ghanaian liberals on study trip to Brussels and Berlin

How to secure election victories and why companions are helpful at this: these were the topics for liberal members of the Ghanaian opposition party „New Patriotic Party “(NPP) during a study trip to Brussels and Berlin. Seven members of the liberal group „G11 “within the NPP discussed with experts from political parties, parliaments and institutions.

Questions pertaining to election campaign strategies are of high importance for the Ghanaian partners of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. In December 2012 Ghanaians elect a new parliament, but already now the election campaign in the West African country is in full swing.

Before the summer break the delegates defended their nominations in the party’s primaries. Now the work in the constituencies stands in the forefront. Key to success is good communication, clear core messages, and that liberal contents are conveyed in an understandable and convinving manner. In discussions with experts such as Lord John Sharkey, who successfully designed and headed the recent election campaign of the British Liberal Democrats, with Sir Graham Watson, MdEP, and with election campaign experts of the German liberal party, FDP, in Berlin, success factors and potential pitfalls for election campaigns were intensively discussed.

This was supplemented by the support offer of the liberal networks. Hans van Baalen, Präsident of Liberal International (LI) and Emil Kirjas, LI General Secretary, discussed the possibilities with the Ghanaian parliamentarians. Nick Branson, Secretary General of the Africa Liberal Network, as well as representatives of LYMEC (Liberal and Radical Youth Movement of the European Community) and IFLRY (International Federation of Liberal Youth) discussed details of cooperation with the G11.

During the study tour, emphasis was on the discussion of the contributions of the liberal group for the mother party’s election manifesto which will be published early next year. The development and formulation of political positions for dialogue and campaigns therefore stood at the center of the discussions with the campaign strategists on the European and German level. The new Africa concept of the Federal Government and co-operation issues with Ghana, as well as discussions with the director's of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation at its head office in Potsdam closed the program.



The Ghanaian delegation at the Truman House,
FNF Headquarters, in Potsdam