Samia Nkrumah leaves Door open for 2016 Prez Bid

Although she is yet to announce her intention to seek any higher office, many in the country, especially the youth see Ms Samia Yaba Christina Nkrumah as the only politician who can help transform Ghana into the giant of Africa and economic powerhouse on the continent. Convention Peoples Party and indeed Ghanaian people cannot wait for Nkrumah to help rescue the country.

The Jomorro MP and daughter of the founder and father of Ghana told this writer in Accra recently that she will run for re-election to her constituency post as member of Parliament instead of running against the current President in 2012. She cited a need to focus on helping the youth and children, many with no opportunity or jobs, to escape the poverty and misery they found themselves.

“I have a duty to fulfil as Member of Parliament for Jomorro, and the immediate need to focus helping to create jobs for the many jobless young men and women in this country and that is what I must do”, Samia stated.

Although Samia said she cannot and will not run for the President in 2012 due to her immediate task, however she left the door of a candidacy in future years (perhaps 2016). Samia’s decision makes the NDC-held Presidency secure. Many political analysts and commentators, including this writer, believe any contest against Yaba Christina Nkrumah would result in a straight win for her. Nkrumah’s decision not to run is a surprise, given that she is seen by the Ghanaian people as the anointed successor to her father and in effect the Presidency. Many in Ghana and on the continent believe that the election of John Arthur Mills, a die-hard Nkrumaist as President in 2008 essentially to keep it warm for the daughter of Nkrumah until she was able to run.

Samia said soon after the presidential run off in December 2008 she will keep her pledge not to run against Prof Mills in 2012. She said “I will spend the next eight years as Member of Parliament serving the people of Jomorro and our country and not running for the office of President”. She stated “I have made a commitment to Ghanaian people and one I will fulfil”.

With Samia Yaba Nkrumah declining to run for 2012, many Nkrumaists and CPP Patriots are looking to Professor Agyeman Badu Akosah, another illustrious CPPist and former Young Pioneer, to lead the party, like John the Baptist, and prepare the way for Samia in 2016.

Since returning to Ghana in 2007 after many years in Diaspora, Samia Yaba had been focused on restructuring the CPP, her job as Member of Parliament and helping to get more youth into education and employment.

Samia said “The reality is, with many of the youth homeless and unemployed; it became increasingly clear that it was impossible to mount a Presidential campaign in the face of dealing with massive social problems as well as things we need to do to help uplift a generation of youth out of poverty and destitution”.

Samia Yaba Nkrumah vowed while campaigning for parliament in 2008 that she will fight for such causes as girl-child poverty eradication, job creation for the youth and jobless graduates, economic empowerment of women – issues close to her heart. Samia has made the empowerment of women her top priority after winning office. Samia said “I knew I had to be focused on these causes. I sought this office as MP to create an opportunity for women empowerment and youth issues. This is one of the reasons I decided to serve”. Samia said she wanted to build on the 7 year Development Plan put in place by her late father, which is still relevant today. Her father, Africa’s foremost patriot was overthrown by a group of armed criminals in uniform on 24th February 1966 when she was only 6 year old.

Soon after being elected as Member of Parliament in December 2008, Samia said, “I am accepting the responsibility to continue this nation’s fight. I am accepting the challenge to lead this fight. When the time comes I will announce my candidacy to run for higher office” she told a crowd of cheering supporters at Jomorro.

Samia Yaba Christina Nkrumah’s election as Member of Parliament establishes a dynasty based on her father’s long fight to help unite continental Africa. She said “I want democracy to work for all Ghanaians. I want every Ghanaian to share in the Ghanaian dream, a dream that propel my father to become Africa’s first Patriot”.

Even now Samia has a significant head start over Alan Kyeremanten and John Mahama, her likely rivals in 2016, as voters’ preference as future President of Ghana. It is anticipated that if she announces her bid for the 2016 presidential elections she will take in over $100 million dollars in fund raising from Ghanaians and other well wishers who want to see Nkrumah as President of Ghana at any cost.