By Ekua Kwansema

I was stunned by the comments made by Kwame Pianim, a founding member of the NPP, that the NPP should elect a Ga or a Fanti as its chairman to dispel the notion that the NPP is an Akan Party. I was equally amazed that Kwame Pianim who seems to be very intelligent does not even know that Fantis are part of the Akan Family which comprise of 10 tribes.

And to make matters worse Mr. Pianim who I have much respect for argued that if the NPP has a Ga Chairman it will make the party feel comfortable in Accra which would eventually reflect all across the country. A Ga NPP chairman would help the NPP to win the next elections, so Pianim thinks. This is a big joke.

When I finished reading the story I felt very sorry for Mr. Pianim and his NPP. What hit me was that for all these years the United Party/Progress Party/Popular Front Party/New Patriotic Party has learnt nothing new. They still think the party is for the few Asante/Akyem elite who during Nkrumah's days thought that building schools throughout the country and making education compulsory was a waste of time and another ploy by Nkrumah to cheapen education.

The party still holds the notion that nobody outside the Asante/Akyem clique is good to be the party's presidential candidate, which is why Mr. Pianim dropped the ball by saying that they should settle for someone from the South as chairman so that the presidential candidate can still come from that 'area'.

Mr. Pianim was not wrong at all in saying the things he said because that is the thinking of many NPP gurus who wrongly believe that part of their electoral defeat in the 2008 elections was a result of their giving most of the juicy positions in the party to people from that area. Talk about party Chair, Peter Mac Manu, General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow and the Flag Bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo and you would understand where I am coming from.

Now in trying to reposition itself in order to wrestle power from the NDC, the NPP is attempting to roll out the dice by making some overtures to the party members from the South to 'reward' them with some bread crumbs hence that unpardonable comment from Mr. Pianim.

Many people including me would have applauded if Mr. Pianim has stated that the NPP should move away from the Asante/Akyem mafia and develop the guts in electing any party member from whatever tribe to lead it in the next general elections. Just see what happened to the former vice-president, Mr. Aliu Mahama who was treated as a footnote during the run-up for the party’s 2008 presidential candidate. Somebody who has been vice-president of the ruling party for 8 solid years was treated with contempt as the NPP simply saw him as an outsider, which is why nobody pitched in for him on the need for him to be considered as the flag bearer.  The pronouncement by Mr. Pianim should serve as a wake-up call for members of the party who do not come from that ‘area’, that the NPP presidential slot is not for those who do not come from that ‘area’. It’s simply a no-go area for those from other areas. Some people would brand me as racist for daring to expose this evil deed by the NPP, but my words are true just as darkness follows daylight. Since the UP was formed, when has anybody from another tribe mounted the overall leadership of the party apart from those coming from that ‘area’?

If the NPP just wants a Ga chairman who would help propel them to victory, then they should try and woo the Ga Mantse himself to be the party chair. It is high time the party takes a closer look at itself and shake itself from the elitist tendencies.

Today the NPP is in serious identity crisis not knowing where it is coming from or where it is going. The party has been hijacked by few people who think that it is only people from that area who are good enough to lead the party.

Since the NPP has members from all tribes in Ghana , it is simply an insult for its leadership to think that it is only people from that area who could become flag bearers of the party. If what Kwame Pianim said is not true, the party's leadership would have issued a statement condemning it. But since what he said is true, everybody has kept quiet about it till today. Onyame na wehu mo. (God has seen you NPP people).

ekwansema@yahoo.com