NPP Race for Castle Starts

DAYS AFTER the leadership of the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), opened the door to candidates interested in leading the party to either the Castle or the Jubilee House, struggles for the single slot have started.

Information available to The Chronicle indicates that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who led the party to the 2008 elections, would soon pick nomination forms, which cost GH¢500, fill and present it to the party executive, after which he would hit the road to campaign for the delegates to endorse him.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Subin in the Kumasi Metropolis, Mr. Isaac Osei, The Chronicle gathered, would officially launch his campaign in his 'hometown', Dixcove, in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region, after which he would travel to all the constituencies to canvass for votes.

Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, is also ready to declare his intention this week.

The Chronicle can report that Prof. Boateng, one of the nation's finest heart surgeons, last Thursday sent his aides to collect forms for him, but they were however turned away for the reason that he himself should go for it, or give a signed letter to the aides to come for the forms on his behalf.

Another individual expected to join the race, is the former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama. The former Vice President placed third during the last presidential primary, but his contesting is however in doubt, since his official spokesman, Yaw Buabeng, has joined Alan's camp, where he is currently serving as the spokesman.

Currently, little is heard of Dan Kweku Botwe, the NPP Member of Parliament for Okere in the Eastern Region, who party members believe represents the youth of the party.

The last contender, Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, even though was yet to pick his form, had already started his official campaign.

The latter, together with Nana Addo, are considered front runners in the race.

After suspending his campaign activities due to the Easter festivities, the presidential hopeful, Mr. John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, would today resume his tour of the Greater Accra Region in his bid to lead the NPP to the Castle in 2012.

Information gathered by The Chronicle revealed that his counterpart, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, would soon follow him.

This morning, he, together with this campaign machinery, are touring the Okaikoi South and North constituencies, and that of Dome-Kwabenya, the backyard of Prof. Mike Oquaye, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a strong supporter of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.

Mr. Kyerematen, who has taken his campaign to lead the NPP into the 2012 general elections to a different level, thereby attracting non-members of the party at various fora, received an overwhelming welcome to the various places he visited last week.

At La-Dadekotopon, Ada, Sege, Osu, Odododiodio and many others places he visited, he promised to create jobs for the people, saying hewould make sure that the people would be able to afford three square-meals a day, and occasionally took a swipe at the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

At various interactions with the party delegates, the former minister of trade and industry, apart from showcasing his achievements under the previous administration, also demonstrated his commitment to the party, and traced his roots and the roles he played in the party.

According to him, it had become evident that Ghanaians had regretted voting for the ruling party, and that it was now up to the delegates to look for a candidate who can attract votes for the NPP to regain power.

Mr. Kyerematen, flanked by his campaign team, spearheaded by Mr. Kwabena Agyapong, former Press Secretary to President Kufuor, Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, former Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Maxwell Kofi Jumah, NPP MP for Asokwa in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Yaw Buabin Asamoah, former Special Aide to the former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, now official spokesperson for Alan Kyerematen, Mr. Albert Afaglo, immediate past Greater Regional Organiser, Mr. Boye Laryea, former Greater Accra Regional Financial Secretary, walked through the town and interacted with non-party members, especially the elderly, attracting others to join his convoy.

He tasked the delegates to carefully consider him as the obvious candidate for the NPP, on the basis that he had the ability to appeal to floating voters, with a clarion call that the youth should be given the opportunity to lead the NPP.

"If you give the impression that the youth are not needed, they would desert the party. Give them the chance to lead the party. You need to have a leader who represents the interests of the party, and the future of the party," he said.

He however dispelled the notion that he had a personal problem with Nana Akufo-Addo, saying, "Nobody should make a mistake that there is friction between myself and Nana Addo. We are very good brothers. If you saw as at the congress, you would know. The fact is that Ghanaians are saying that it is Alan who will bring the NPP back to power."

According to him, when it came to the peak at the last presidential primary, where a candidate needed to get 50 plus one votes, he sacrificed his ambition in the supreme interest of the NPP, taking into account the tension that surrounded the event, and went ahead to fully support Nana Addo, and that it was unfortunate that Ghanaians did not vote for him at the polls.

To Mr. Kyerematen, for the NPP to win the 2012 general elections, it needed to have a campaign structure, campaign message, and the candidate.

He said, during the last elections, the NPP effectively campaigned, except that the campaign was not grassroots-oriented, adding that the next election must be grassroots-oriented.

He admonished the delegates to conduct house-to-house campaigns, and recount the achievements of the NPP during its eight years of government.

The former Minister, who indicated that he represents the symbol of unity in the NPP, said when given the opportunity, he would help create jobs and share wealth among Ghanaians.

"Alan Kash is a unifier; he represents both the young and the old. He is the choice of the moment. He is the man the youth can call their own. He would bring power to the party; he is youthful, energetic, visionary, and above all, is resourceful with fresh ideas."

Ahead of today's tour in the three constituencies, Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, Field Operations Manager of the campaign team, disclosed to this paper that having toured a few constituencies, everything was going on favourably, and was optimistic that at the end of the day, the delegates would decide firmly on Alan to lead the party.According to him, what was in the heart of his boss was to ensure that the party stands tall among all the political parties, and to give the NDC a hot chase and boot them out of office.

To him, Alan had what it takes to transform the NPP into a winnable party, and help create jobs for the people.