Published: Daily Guide
Date:September 3, 2014
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The stage seems set for all the four flagbearer hopefuls of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to battle it out at the party’s October 18, 2014 national delegates’ congress to elect a presidential candidate for the 2016 general elections.
After the stepping down of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Essikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey—who even though made it to the first five—the rest are girding their loins to battle it out with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who led the first round with over 81 percent of the valid votes cast during the Special Delegates’ Congress on Sunday to prune the number of aspirants from seven to five in line with the party’ Constitution.
Among the seven who contested for the first round of the game, Akufo-Addo came top with 598 votes, representing 81.81%; followed by Alan Kyerematen, who had 62 votes, representing 7.97% and then Addai-Nimoh and Joe Ghartey tied it up with 19 votes each, representing 2.97% out of 749 delegates who voted in the exercise.
Mr Osei-Ameyaw picked the last slot with 16 votes, representing 2.16%, while his colleagues Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, popularly known as Asabee, and Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, crashed out of the race with 11 votes, representing 1.76% and nine votes 1.35% respectively.
Two-time flagbearer of the NPP who is seeking re-election, Nana Akufo-Addo, his colleague flagbearer hopefuls, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Francis Addai-Nimoh, Mampong MP, and the MP for Asuogyaman, Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, look more than ready to go the full haul of the race.
Campaign Starts
Even though three other aspirants who are challenging Nana Akufo-Addo for the NPP flagbearership slot have not indicated when they are hitting the road, the two-time flagbearer said he was starting his campaign for the October congress next week.
A statement issued from the office of Nana Akufo-Addo yesterday said he would begin the second phase of the NPP presidential primary campaign on Monday, September 8, 2014.
The statement, signed by his Spokesman, Mustapha Hamid, said “Nana Akufo-Addo will embark on a 10-day tour of the country to thank delegates for the resounding victory they gave him on Sunday, August 31, 2014.”
He would begin it from the Upper West regional capital, Wa, and proceed together with his campaign team to the Upper East regional capital, Bolgatanga, on Tuesday. He would then head for the Northern regional capital, Tamale, on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, to thank all delegates for the confidence reposed in him, and urge them to vote for him again in the October 18 presidential primary.
Showdown
Kofi Osei Ameyaw, MP for Asuogyaman in the Eastern Region, gave a tacit indication of his intention to proceed to the next stage of the contest, which he called a ‘showdown’ when he issued a statement in Accra yesterday.
“We have completed the first journey by God’s grace and just as we started, it is my prayer that the good God directs and guides us to our next destination,” he prayed.
Overtures
Some have called for the rest of the contestants to gracefully step aside for Nana to be made the standard bearer of the party, in view of the overwhelming endorsement he was given last Sunday.
Member of the Ashanti Regional Council of Elders of the party, Akenten Appiah Menka, wants the three candidates running the flagbearership race with Nana Akufo-Addo to step down.
He said that even though the three candidates—former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen, Francis Addai-Nimoh and Kofi Osei Ameyaw—had made it to the top five, they should take the interest of people in the party into consideration and use their resources to support Nana Akufo-Addo.
Speaking on Tuesday on Adom FM’s ‘Dwaso Nsem’ programme, Mr Appiah Menka said any effort by the three towards rescinding their decision to go to congress on October 18, would bring the party together and promote unity.
Arguments
Others, including the only pollster who sits in the comfort of his office to make projections, Ben Ephson, and spokesman for Alan, Nana Ohene-Ntow, have sought to downplay this suggestion saying the 749 who voted in the Special Delegates’ Congress were an insignificant number to decide who leads the NPP in the 2016 general elections.
According to them, that was in view of the fact that about 145,000 delegates would vote in the actual congress slated for next month, and that the tide could turn.
“They increased the number of delegates to 145,000 because they claimed 3,000 is a smaller number. If 3,000 is not a good figure, then they cannot justify the use of 800 delegates. The 749 votes obtained by Nana Addo is even less than 1% of the 145,000. The voting must come on”, Mr Ephson said on Peace FM.
Meanwhile, many members, including chairmen and members of the party’s external branches, believe that nothing would change the pattern of voting that took place in the Special Delegates’ Congress.
In the case of Francis Addai-Nimoh, he said he was still consulting on whether to throw in the towel or not.