RESTRATEGIZING FOR VICTORY 2016; THE NPP FLAG BEARER SHIP RACE A simple definition of a political party worth looking at in this write up is ‘a group of people with similar ideas on the management of affairs of a country’s resources, who come together voluntarily with the aim of contesting elections and forming a government should they, win’. The above definition does not by any stretch of imagination endorse sectionalism, factionalism or ethnicism. On the contrary, it endorses inclusiveness, co-operation, hard work, loyalty and sacrifice. Ghana’s laws are unequivocal about the need for a political party to be national in character which is why by law every political party is obliged to have branches across the length and breadth of this country. This stance is further underscored by the fact that the two major political parties that have won elections in Ghana under the fourth republican dispensation has done so not only through its core support but also by those of swinging voters whom they were able to convince through the personalities of candidates they field, manifesto pledges and how well their party apparatchiks have disseminate their ideas to the grassroots History tells us that since the founding of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 1992, they have had three flag bearers; Jerry John Rawlings, John Atta-Mills and John Dramani Mahama. It is worthy of note that all of the above come from different Ethnic extractions and therefore from different parts of the country. History also tells us that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) since 1992 when it was founded have also had three flagbearers; Prof. Albert Adu Boahen, John Agyekum Kuffour as well as Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo. Worthy of mention about these names is the fact that all of them come from the same Ethnic extraction. When looking at the two political parties therefore the NDC seem to be taking the legal injunction of making a political party national in character not just in the creation of party offices across the country but making the topmost position of the party rotate among individual of diverse background. In doing so however, steps are taken not to compromise competence, loyalty, sacrifice and hard work. Every well meaning Ghanaian believes that at heart the NPP is national in character but when it comes to whom to lead the party it is found wanting as far as the spread from across the country the individual come. The 2012 general elections are over and with it the election petition hearing. Nana Akuffo-Addo having accepted the outcome of the election petition hearing however unpalatable it appeared, has taken some days off abroad to take much needed rest and to ponder over his future endeavors The tenure of party executives at all levels in the country is almost over and intentions are made by some not to seek re-election while others wish to do so. Ultimately a contest will be held to elect a flag bearer for the 2016 General elections. Names are being bandied around. Among them are Nana Akuffo-Addo; a towering figure in the NPP no doubt. The multi million dollar question is though nothing stops him from contesting the primaries and by extension the general elections on the NPP ticket, will he be able to deliver victory for the party against a much younger and vibrant John Dramani Mahama? Some among the party still make mention of John Allan Kyeremanteng, a much younger, vibrant and generally popular figure both within and without the party. Aside being of the same Ethnic extraction as earlier flagbearers, his undoing took place when having lost to the eventual winner of the last flagbearer contest within the party, he resigned from the party citing intimidation of his supporters by those of the victor What readers will find most interesting is that for a party that prides itself as being truly democratic and therefore welcomes everyone irrespective of background, it failed to give the flagbearer position to Aliu Mahama who at the time claimed to be a ‘chief apprentice’ after serving eight continuous years as the vice president of the Republic. Granted that the contest was held fair and square which consequently produced Addo-Danquah Akuffo-Addo as the preferred candidate, the NPP now have what I will call a unique opportunity to present Dr. Mamoud Bawumia; a fine young man who has in a relatively short time made a transition from being a technocrat to being a politician. His confidence level has grown steadily since Nana unveiled him as his running mate for the 2008 general elections. Prior to the 2012 General elections Dr. Bawumia delivered an excellent lecture on the state of the Ghanaian economy then which won him a lot of admirers including John Agyekum Kuffour arguably the most successful of the Danquah Busia Dombo tradition who publicly thanked God for giving the party such a gem. Having been chosen a second time as running mate, Bawumia did excellently to secure the party the amount of votes they garnered at the polls. He also placed his technocratic background at the disposal of the party in unraveling administrative, clerical as well as accounting errors which formed the basis for which they presented a petition before the country’s foremost court. To cap it all he acquitted himself excellently within the witness box to the admiration of the rank and file of the party which makes him a product well marketed and worth selling within a short time span. Students of Politics including myself await with bated breath the emergence and dominance of Dr. Bawumia’s name in the run up to the flag bearer contest. Aside from not coming from the same Ethnic extraction as earlier flag bearers of the party, he has proven within a short time that when given the opportunity, he will deliver to the admiration of all and sundry. Aside garnering votes from core party supporters, he is sure to split northern votes which will otherwise have gone exclusively to the sitting president when he contests. That apart, his elevation to flag bearer position will go a long way to erase deeply held notion out there in the minds of many that NPP is an Akan party. Let us not loose sight of the fact that the art of leading does not always have to be understood as being in the forefront, it could as well mean being in the background which posture Nana should have no problem assuming for a faithful running mate and friend. We should also not forget that the NPP as a party cannot let Ghanaians down come 2016 otherwise NDC will be proven the stronger and more popular of the two parties as the two term swap continuum will have been broken. By Atakro Michael (miceyao@yahoo/yaomichael10@gmail)
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 08:37:02 +0000
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