NanaAddo establishes primacy

by Kwabena Opong, Accra, Ghana
A728-member Special Electoral College of the New Patriotic Party of Ghana (NPP) Sunday, August 31st chose five presidential aspirants of the party for the primaries leading to the 2016 general elections. In the process, two of the seven were rejected while NanaAddo DankwaAkufoAddo emerged as the aspirant most in demand.
As the figures indicate, NanaAddo, a two-time flag bearer for the party obtained 599 votes representing 80.81 percent while his closest rival Alan John Kwadwo Kyeremateng polled 59 votes that translates into 7.9 percent. Messrs. FrancisAddai Nimoh and Joe Ghartey grabbed 22 votes each representing 2.9 percent for each of them.
Coming fifth was Kofi Osei Ameyaw with a total of 14 votes. Party stalwarts Asamoah Boateng and Dr. K. K. Apraku were rejected after obtaining 13 and 10 votes respectively.
Among the four trailing NanaAddo, former Attorney General Joe Ghartey has opted out of the larger delegates congress that would vote the flag bearer on October 18. One or two others were rumored to be considering a pull-out but they still insist on remaining in the race.
Earlier in the preceding week prior to the elections, party elder Nana Appiah Menka suggested that any of the seven that polled more than 68 percent should be returned unopposed.
Kofi Osei Ameyaw who was also rumored to be considering a pull-out has also issued a statement to remain in the race. The third individual Francis Addai Nimoh has not said anything so far. In the meantime, Nana Akufo Addo has stated that he would begin his campaign for October 18 on Monday September 8 from the northern regions of the country. He indicated in his post election press conference on August 31 that he was ready to contest his colleagues on October 18.
Each of the four remaining candidates has so far indicated their readiness to come together to support whoever wins the primaries on October 18. The rancor that has characterized the state of the party since the flagbearership process started has not abated.
Some in the Kyeremateng faction continue to bash Nana Addo as too old to lead the party to victory in 2016. Among others, ex-aspirant Arthur Kobina Kennedy has not relented in stoking the fires against Nana Addo. His tirade against Nana Addo is beginning to anger supporters of Nana Addo who see him as an angry man who is seething over his loss in 2007. Already his post 2008 publication, “Chasing the Elephant into the Bush” drew the ire of most party members who see him as a renegade.
The country’s media have inserted themselves in the melee of the pull-out idea insinuating that the pressure to step down is coming from within the party. No party spokesperson has so far confirmed the allegation that has obviously been bought by the Alan faction.
Suggestions regarding same only appear to come from individuals most of who believe it would save the party money and time. In addition to the distrust engendered by the primaries, some Nana Addo supporters still harbor suspicion of the newly elected executives. In a post election radio appearance Secretary General Kwabena Agyepong felt vindicated for the peaceful manner in which the elections were held and the outcome that he indicated was free of any interference by the executives.
There is no doubt that the overwhelming choice of Nana Addo at the special election confirms that he is the most trusted candidate to win the presidency for the NPP in 2016. Most supporters of Nana Addo opine that the outcome of the special elections is also an endorsement of Nana Addo by the grassroots of the party as the most marketed candidate. NDC’s late John Atta Mills stayed in the contest for three times until he finally won, they indicate.
The venom and animosity that is being hurled among themselves notwithstanding it seems to be lost on some NPP members and leaders, and even some in the media that the special elections were held to choose five candidates in accordance with their party’s constitution; and that it is October 18 that would determine who becomes the party’s flag bearer.

Posted by admin on Sep 15 2014. Filed under top stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry