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Decision day for NPP
News analysis, Ghanadot
Accra, December 22, Ghanadot -
Attention is on the NPP today as the nation waits to see who
will emerge as the leader among the 17 contestant vying for
the flagbearership position into the 2000 elections.
Would it be Alan Kyerematen, Nana Addo-Dankwa, V.P Aliu
Mahama or any one of the others?
The much awaited December 22
Congress takes place at Legon, University of Ghana today.
The location is ready with placement and security detail for
the over 2000 delegates expected in attendance. The
tension is already palpable.
At a rally held at Kasoa
yesterday, President J. A. Kufuor made it apparent that he
would support any candidate who would emerge as the
flagbearer after the December 22 Congress of the NPP.
Likewise, in a display of support for each other, all 17
presidential aspirants of the NPP declared a collective
resolve to support any of their rivals who would emerge as
the leader. They each declared the supremacy of the party’s
interest as the focus of their individual candidacy.
Thus was laid to rest the apprehension among many party
members that the fierce competition that has ragged so far
between the contestants would cause a friction in the
party’s ranks.
Political opponents and some observers who have been
salivating at the possibility of a split among the NPP have
been noted to be nourishing some concerns and some outright
disappointment.
At the rally at Kasoa, President Kufuor said he was there to
observe first hand the state of his party as it readied
itself for the pivotal day of the Congress.
Fortunately, he observed that the talk about anger and
dissent among party members he heard from skeptics had
proven to be nothing but mere talk. The party he saw at
Kasoa, he said, was strong, cohesive and ready to do battle.
The President also noted the successes that had been
achieved under his administration and said that much of
these were attained with the support and help of the NPP.
He emphasized that it was necessary for the NPP to be
returned to government for the good governance programs that
he had instituted under his administration to be continued.
The selection of the right candidate, the President said,
was necessary because of urgency for the continuation of the
good work done so far.
Each of the NPP presidential hopefuls took turn to make
their case at the rally.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo used the occasion to call for a
minute observance of silence for the souls of all departed
party members. Silently, he was also laying his claim as a
descendant of some of the most stalwart members of the NPP
tradition of the past.
He had more to say about his loyalty to party by citing how
he had in 1996 pledged his support for President Kufuor. He
asked the candidates to do the same for him.
Mr Alan Kyeremanten, possibly the most charismatic of the
lot, pointed out that for the party to be victorious in the
2008 general elections, the delegates needed “to vote for a
marketable candidate;” one whose attributes, political and
business acumen would create jobs that could put money into
people’s pockets.
Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, at his turn, put emphasis on
science and technology and said he was the man who could
provide leadership for the attainment of this goal.
There was also Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, the brother of the
current president, who insisted that his “track record in
government under the leadership of President Kufuor” was the
key to retain the NPP in power.
Mr Kyeremateng Agyarko mentioned the need for party unity
and care for the “foot soldiers.” That done, he said, the
NPP could carry on in power for the next 50 years for the
good of the country because there was no comparison between
the NPP and the NDC when it came to the unprecedented
development the former had been able to achieve.
Prof Mike Oquaye narrated the accomplishment of the current
administration which he had served as a minister. He cited
HIPC debt cancellation, school feeding projects and the
solid micro economic growth of the country as some of the
major accomplishments under President Kufuor.
At the turn of the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the
crowd cheered. He described himself as the best situated to
carry the NPP to “a third successive victory.” because of
his experiences as the serving vice president.
“I have served President Kufuor and the nation well” he said
“and should you want a smooth transition, the party should
be handing power to me after President Kufuor.”
The man who sounded a bit cautious when he took his turn was
Mr Jake Okanta Obetsebi-Lamptey. He asked party members not
to be over confident but work hard to ensure a resounding
victory come 2008.
By all indications, the NPP is ready for battle. For
all the sayings and postures of the day, one attitude was
clear at Kasoa. To a man, they were all satisfied to
bask in the achievements of President Kufuor, the man they
hoped to succeed. The outcome of the Delegates
Congress tomorrow, however, would be the determinant
of the party's fate in the 2008 elections and after Kufuor.
Ghanadot, December 22, 2007
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