Editorial: Why the ultra-conservatives must not win

On Friday, a statement issued by Arthur Kobina Kennedy, Chairman of the Communications Committee of the 2008 Campaign Team of the New Patriotic Party, virtually betrayed the ultra-sensitivity that has gripped the party in the wake of what is after all the most elaborate and all-inclusive consultation process ever seen in this country's history regarding the choice of running mate.

The story in question was headlined NPP Flagbearer Race: Who is Who - Alima It Is – Alima Mahama vrs John Mahama? - published in our Wednesday July 30, 2008 edition (Vol 19 No. 25.)

In the story, The Statesman posits, on the basis of credible reports reaching it, that the flagbearer of the NPP is likely to choose Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister for Women and Children's Affairs and MP for Nalerigu as his running mate in this year’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Nowhere in our story did we mention that Nana Akufo-Addo had taken a final decision on the matter.

Nana Akufo-Addo, the 2008 NPP Presidential Candidate appears to be a victim of his own democratic innovation. His efforts to expand the democratic nature of intra-party consultation have opened him up to all sorts of unwarranted charges.

The NPP constitution only says that the flagbearer shall choose his running mate in consultation with the National Executive Committee of the party. You would be forgiven to think that Nana Akufo-Addo has actually gone ahead to choose a candidate without reference to NEC! Notwithstanding the fact that he has expanded the consultation exercise beyond what is constitutionally required as an attempt to build greater consensus behind his preferred candidate before putting the matter to the small group of party leaders on the NEC.

As far as we are concerned, it is no secret within the NPP that Nana Akufo-Addo prefers Hajia Alima Mahama as his running mate. He believes it would be a very significant political statement on the kind of Ghana that he wishes to build.

However, he knows that he is up against some very formidable conservative forces and some interest groups, including chiefs, who are all gunning for their preferred candidate but exploiting the situation to make it seem as if there is something fundamentally wrong with Hajia personum.

Curiously, almost everybody who has expressed opposition to the Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs has not been able to pin anything specifically down to support that stance.

Instead, they have resorted to dirty tricks and propaganda. But let the NPP be warned: the country is watching. The pool of about 800,000 votes from which all the parties are aiming for that swing to come their way, the majority of voters within that pool are young and progressive. Is it not time for the party to begin asking how young voters feel about a Hajia Vice Presidency?

Reactions to our story have been most revealing. While we do not begrudge anybody their views on the interpretation(s) that could be adduced from The Statesman story, we believe a careful reading of the said story would remove any ambiguity of the responsible nature of our story. For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that we unequivocally stand by our story. Perhaps quotes from the 'offending’ story would suffice:

"There is every indication that Alima Mahama, 51, will complete the New Patriotic Party’s presidential ticket.  Sources close to Nana Akufo-Addo have confirmed that the 2008 NPP Presidential Candidate is continuing the consultation exercise with leading members of the party to convince them that the party and the nation are ready for a meriting woman Vice President.

"This is likely to be confirmed on Saturday, August 16, when the NPP holds its annual conference at Takoradi, Western Region. All things being equal, the Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs and MP for Nalerigu-Gambaga, could replace her name sake, Aliu Mahama as the next Vice President of the Republic. Alima is the female version of Aliu.

"Choosing Hajia Alima represents a radical departure and may take some extra persuasion from the NPP flagbearer to turn some conservatives. But, sources close to Nana Akufo-Addo believe that this is a major test of his leadership and one that he should not fail in convincing his party members and the country that the time is long over-due to push a woman to the very top."

Our report then went on to quote a source close to Nana Akufo-Addo: "The running mate is by selection and hopefully this would serve as a major boost for Ghanaian girls and women who are willing to work hard to get to the top."

The story went on to list the academic and career credentials of Hajia Alima, as well as her purported opponent, John Dramani Mahama.

We have been disappointedly surprised by how people of high political repute and acumen could allow themselves to be so overly emotionally ‘hurt’ by our story.

Our story, like others done by other media houses, was part of efforts to stimulate discussion on the right candidate to partner Nana Akufo-Addo in this year’s election. It was not meant as a pre-emptive announcement of a decision which had not been taken and any interpretation as such is quite unfortunate.

There are signs of a negative ultra-conservative streak within the ranks of the NPP, a disturbing lack of room for innovation and positive change. Yet, never have such elements been allowed to stem the tide of positive change.

We sincerely hope we are not mistaken.