Leave Nana Alone – Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has waded into the fog surrounding the choice of a running mate for the 2012 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, asking that Nana be left alone to pick his favourite.

The choice, according to the former president, being a prerogative of the flagbearer, should be treated as such even though he could be supported with information and counsel that could assist him in arriving at a final decision.

The former president made the observation when he spoke on Oman FM’s ‘Boiling Point’ on Thursday evening in commemoration of his 73rd birthday anniversary.

“The party does not choose a running mate for the flagbearer. I pray that God assists the flagbearer to make the right choice. The choice of a running mate is like choosing a marital partner. Parents can only advise but cannot force a partner on the man. The final decision is the man’s,” he said.

On his party, the NPP, he said he knew it very well, having been associated with it since his infancy. He prayed that party members would let love for Ghana and the political grouping be their watchwords.

He told Ghanaians that their country had been blessed with human and natural resources.

He prayed that Ghanaians eschew tribalism and pettiness so that the country could progress, adding, “Let us see other as each other as brothers and allow the rule of law to be a feature in the country, this way Ghana would grow to great heights.”

Former President Kufuor told his host that he was thankful to God for giving him good health and strength, adding that it was only the Almighty who knew why he had given him those qualities.

The issue of a running mate for the flagbearer is the hottest issue in the party, with many names being dangled about especially in the media.

The endorsement of personalities by some media practitioners and others is now rife with pro-NDC newspapers cashing in on it.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Alhaji Nurudeen Jawula, Hon. Ambrose Dery, Alhassan Haruna, the Deputy Managing Director of Metro TV are some of the names being bandied around the political and media turfs.

DAILY GUIDE can confirm that elders of the party are being inundated by visits from interested persons with eyes for the top position.

One man whose name is gaining currency in recent times is Alhaji Alhassan Haruna, the Metro TV man, behind whom a Kumasi Zongo group has thrown its weight.

He is said to be very popular among the large Zongo community in Kumasi and the surrounding settlements.

Having his roots in Bawku, he is said to be making inroads among various ethnic groups in the Northern parts of the country.

The issue of running mate for Nana popped up soon after his election as flagbearer for the NPP but a party directive seeking a peace of mind for him suspended all activities towards that end.

A few weeks ago, an Accra-based newspaper opened the lid on the closed subject by presenting some names, an action which saw a flurry of newspaper speculations and promotions of candidate upon candidate.

In recent days, the names of Boniface Abubakar Saddique and Rashid Bawa, former MPs and ministers have been put out by a section of the media.