Cracks in Akufo-Addo camp over 'Alan post'

Intelligence picked up by The Informer indicates that serious cracks are emerging within the camp of Nana Akufo-Addo over the possible choice of Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen as his campaign manager for the 2016 presidential election.

Whiles some see it as a token of gesture towards unifying the various factions within the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), others think that given some of the unpalatable statements made against Nana Akufo-Addo by Mr. Alan Kyerematen’s campaign team in the build-up to the October 18, 2014, flagbearership elections, it would be “suicidal” to have Alan as the campaign manager of the twice-defeated Presidential Candidate of the NPP.

Confirming the fissure and the tension over the proposal that Mr. Alan Kyerematen be appointed the campaign manager of the 2016 election, a close confidante to the NPP Flagbearer revealed that the issue (appointment of Alan) will be a subject of discussion over the next few weeks that Nana Addo’s camp maps out its strategy for the 2016 elections.

According to the source, though Nana Addo has not personally commented on the proposal to make Alan his campaign manager, some of his beau monde members, particularly, the Akyem caucus, have protested vehemently against any such intent of including Alan in the campaign team, more or less making him its manager.

“To be honest, some leading members of Nana Addo’s Akyem group are prepared to distance themselves from him (Nana Addo) if he dare make any such move by appointing Alan Cash as his campaign manager,” the source disclosed.

According to the close associate, any serious issue under contention with the Nana Addo camp regarding Alan Kyerematen has to do with his experience in election matters.

“Some of the protestors also hold the view that, Alan Cash is knowledgeable as far as elections are concerned, and that, it would be perilous to make him a campaign manager for an election that the NPP is not ready to give away,” he added.

Asked whether the five (5) names making the rounds – thus; Mr. Dan Botwe, Mr. Boakye Agyarko, Edward Boateng, Mr. Stephen Ntim and Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia; who is likely to get the nod, the source replied that, “even though I don’t take decisions for Nana Addo, I think Dan Botwe will be an added advantage, having proven to be well-versed in election matters than Alan Kyerematen”.

“The appointment of Mr. Dan Botwe, does not mean that Nana Addo doubts Dr. Bawumia’s competence. Not at all. Dr. Bawumia as the running-mate will have a supervisory role over the campaign team,” the source added.

The highly-placed source concluded, saying “party unity or not, Alan will not play any key role in Nana Addo’s campaign; having allowed his team to make derogatory statements about Nana during the campaign for the flagbearership elections.

Of how the Nana Addo camp is not ready to tolerate members from the other factions, particularly, the Alan camp, a spokesperson of the newly-elected NPP flagbearer, Mustapha Hamid, without mincing words, said selecting Alan Kyerematen as a running-mate to Nana Akufo-Addo would be suicidal.