Akufo-Addo as much wanted as unwanted in NPP – Arthur K

A strong voice within the main opposition New Patriotic Party, Dr Arthur Kennedy, has said: “While there is a very strong case for retaining Nana Akufo-Addo” as the party’s flagbearer for the third consecutive time, “there is also an equally strong case for changing him."

Kennedy, therefore, disagrees with suggestions that the two-time presidential candidate – who got an overwhelming endorsement of more than 80 % of votes cast in Sunday’s super delegates’ congress by an Electoral College of 740 – should be allowed to go uncontested in the party’s second mega congress, at which 141,000 delegates are billed to elect one of the final five aspirants.

A flurry of suggestions in that regard has been made by party elders and supporters of the former Attorney General’s third-time bid.

The proponents believe such a move will, not only save the party further acrimony and infighting – as a result of the internal competition – but also spare cost.

But a balking Dr Kennedy has warned that succumbing to those propositions would be a slap in the face of the party’s constitution, and also a denial of an opportunity to the delegates to demonstrate which side of the pro-anti divide they fall on, as far as Akufo-Addo’s bid is concerned.

“We must be patient and permit both cases to be made”, he urged, arguing: “It is the yearning for change that led to the defeats” of former Chairman Jake Obetsebil-Lamptey and former General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), who both served in the same administration, and before them, of Nana Ohene Ntow, who was also a General Secretary.