More fire under Sir John’s seat

When a politician, especially the ones in Ghana, tells you there is pressure mounting on them to contest a particular position within their political party, but maintain that the decision had never crossed their minds, the obvious is that they are sure to mount the campaign platforms for that particular position.

When The Chronicle contacted the recent past Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akomea, on speculations that he was girding his loins to contest the General Secretary position of his party, his response was that of a typical Ghanaian politician:

“I can confirm there is a lot of pressure on me to contest…and the pressure is immense.” However, he said he had personally not made any decision as to whether to contest the seat or not. “As at now, I have not made any decision yet,” he noted.

He told The Chronicle there was still some more time between now and, possibly, next year April, when the party is likely to go to congress to decide on the matter.

But, The Chronicle can report on authority that Nana Akomea’s name has come up as the strongest candidate for the General Secretary position of the NPP, should he decide to contest that seat.

Nana Akomea, a former Member of Parliament for the Okaikoi South Constituency, was appointed Communication Director of the NPP at its 2012 campaign office, a position he held until after the hearing of the landmark election petition case at the Supreme Court.

His work during this period endeared him to many within the party, who think of him as the best man for the General Secretary job.

The clamour for the General Secretary’s seat, currently being occupied by the vociferous Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, a man who proudly responds to the accolade as the only ‘Sir’ in Ghana politics, is certainly one which political watchers cannot afford to blink an eye over.

Having held that position for a term, Sir John has endeared himself with mostly the grassroots of the party, and seen by many as the man best cast to match boot-for-boot the fire brand in the ruling National Democratic Congress.

In the recent past, ‘Sir John’ has earned a new title in Ghanaian politics as the most potent “repellant” to the NDC’s “Mosquito”.

So far, Yaw Buaben Asamoah, a deputy director of communications for the 2012 NPP campaign, has openly made public his intention to contest the hot seat.

Yaw Buaben’s credentials as the unifier and the man who has worked with almost all the regimes in the party’s history makes him a popular choice for the seat.

His performance as the Legal Spokesperson for the petitioners during the 8-month long election petition at the Supreme Court further adds to his credentials for that position.

“YB”, as he is fondly called by his peers, has served the NPP from its inception in 1992. He has worked in various capacities in the party, during the times of Adu Boahen, the grand Alliance in 1996, worked with the NPP government during its first term, worked with the late Vice President Aliu Mahama’s campaign team in 2007, Allan Kyeremateng’s campaign in 2010, and Nana Addo’s campaign in 2012.

“It is my hope and believe that I never failed the party in all those years of proud dedicated service,” he emphasised.

Last Friday, a group, calling itself friends of Kwabena Agyepong, officially endorsed the Press Secretary for former president Kufuor to contest the General Secretary position of the party in the upcoming national congress of the party.

Mr. Agyapong is yet to officially declare his intention to contest the seat, but The Chronicle can state on authority that he will mount a campaign for the position.

The groups supporting him say, “Mr. Kwabena Agyapong’s name cannot be wiped out” on the list of competent personalities within the party to effectively hold the General Secretary position, due to his contributions within the party over the years.

“The NPP has come a long way since it was formed in 1992. As a political party, we have gone through the processes both in government and in opposition in the history of this country.

“Men and women have played an important role in the party, and Mr. Kwabena Agyapong’s name cannot be wiped out,” the group noted.

With these names, and others yet to come, the contest for the seat of the General Secretary of the elephant family has certainly been placed in the arena of “blood and sand.”