Gabby: Early congress not to impose Akufo-Addo on NPP

Executive Director of policy group, Danquah Institute, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko says the proposal for an early congress to elect a flagbearer for the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2016 elections, is not a ploy to give twice-defeated flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, an advantage.

“I believe that early congress proposal cannot be said to have been made to benefit Nana Akufo-Addo as it is being feared,” Mr. Otchere-Darko wrote in an article titled: “Crisis in NPP, what crisis?”

He said: “I do not think Akufo-Addo’s popularity in the party and across the land would wane by any material margin within the next 15 months, within which the leadership contest must be held. That proposal is, therefore, not worth its accompanying acrimony”.

Proponents of an early congress argue that it will give the party enough time to beat down internal tension and dissension ahead of the 2016 elections.

The proposal was opposed publicly by a former presidential aspirant of the party, Dr. Kobina Arthur Kennedy and former Information Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, who is rumoured to harbour presidential ambitions for 2016.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng, for instance, argued that it was part of a grand scheme to impose Nana Akufo-Addo on the party, as presidential candidate for the third time.

However, in his piece, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko said Nana Akufo-Addo “knows what is at stake. The unity of the party, the cries from the grassroots and the destiny of a nation ready for take-off but stuck in neutral on a slop, with bad brakes and a dodgy driver”.

He said he believed “Nana Akufo-Addo knows what is good for his party and nation. I believe Nana Addo is reflecting and doing so selflessly and patriotically. I believe Nana Addo will come back from his break to offer himself for service to his party’s 2016 presidential efforts”.

“So, I know, things will soon simmer down, the NPP will have a series of vibrant internal contests, and will push to bring everybody on board to do what it takes to win power in 2016”.