NPP Hangs Pianim

• Over Idiot NPP Flagbearer Statement

New Patriotic Party (NPP) guru, Mr. Kwame Pianim has been ‘sentenced to death’ by fellow party big shots who have decided to hang him on the ‘elephant gallows’ for opening his mouth distastefully yet again.

This is the second time in months that the once NPP flagbearership aspirant has come under a barrage of ferocious tongue-lashing from fellow party members. Mr. Pianim was nearly eaten alive when he publicly vouched for the integrity of President Mills, saying the President is incorruptible but could not say same of former President John Kufuor.

Mr Pianim is being hanged by his critics for ‘wrongly’ opening his mouth again. As is the case, the campaign for the NPP 2012 flagbearership is heating up, spawning interesting revelations ‘from the horses own mouth,’ a development which promises stirring days ahead for the party as it inches towards its delegates conference in August to elect one out of five contestants.

Mr. Kwame Pianim has on Wednesday stirred the hornet nest by describing as ‘criminal,’ ‘corrupt’ and ‘idiot’ some flagbearership aspirants of the party, and told delegates not to vote for them if they want the good of the country. Mr. Kwame Pianim, an economist and leading member of the NPP, who has thrown his full weight behind the campaign of Professor Frimpong Boateng for the party’s 2012 flagbearer position, described as criminal and corrupt some other contestants, saying that rejecting Professor Frimpong Boateng, who is former Chief Executive Officer of the Korlebu Teaching Hospital, to elect any other person as presidential candidate of the NPP would only entrench corruption in the country once that person becomes president.

He stated categorically that “criminals would have the freedom to dictate to the security agencies and corruption will reign freely if any other aspirant is elected into office.” Mr. Pianim therefore called on delegates to elect the best, Prof. Frimpong Boateng, rather than an “idiot” as their leader. Mr. Pianim said in this changing world, what Ghana needs is a leader and not just a mere flagbearer, explaining, “We are not looking for a flagbearer, any idiot can hold the flag,” he stated.

He said the NPP needs a presidential candidate who is up to date with modern trends and technology and can think outside the box, rather than an old fashioned person with outdated ideas.

According to him, in as much as the NPP is looking for a flagbearer, any idiot can hold the flag, so the NPP must go for a tried and tested person with lots of experience in leadership, saying that Professor Frimpong Boateng represents a new generation of politicians who are selfless, technologically inclined, incorruptible and determined to change things to impact society.

He noted that, “This day and age, there are people who are struggling to become president, they don’t know how to use e-mail.”

The NPP stalwart made these remarks when Professor Frimpong Boateng launched his campaign in Accra. The other contestants are 2009 flagbearer of the party, Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr. Alan Kyerematen, Dr. Isaac Osei and Evangelist Konduah. Mr. Pianim also noted that the party can find people with good analytical brains. He admonished delegates not to be looking for people who can chant slogans or have “a pretty face. We are looking for somebody who can tackle life and death matters with calmness, creative listening, precision and also action.” Taking a swipe further at Nana Akufo-Addo in particular, Mr. Pianim added that all the old-timers who are in the race are people who are involved in political engineering. “We need somebody who is trained. I don’t care whoever you are, a Doctor or an economist or whatever. The most important thing after your education is how you think,” he said.

When Mr Pianim publicly declared faith in President Mills as one who will not receive kickbacks, his statement stirred the fury of his party members. A delegation was dispatched by the NPP at the time to ‘gag’ him.

Mr. Pianim has until the launch of Professor Boateng campaigns on Wednesday not made any public statement. But he proved his party wrong on the occasion, sending out a strong signal that he cannot be gagged.