I'm The Winner - Hackman

Former Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Hackman Owusu Agyemang yesterday filed his nomination papers to contest the flagbearership slot of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), dropping hints of a possible alliance. He however stressed that the most important thing the party needed was to get a winnable candidate to carry it through the 2008 general elections. He also indicated his readiness to support the winner should he fail to carry the day as the NPP flagbearer.
Hackman, who failed to indicate whether such an alliance would take place before the December 22, 2007 congress or after the first-round of voting had failed to produce a clear winner, said he had what it takes to lead the party to victory. The one-time Interior Minister made this known while submitting his nomination papers to the General Secretary of NPP, Nana Ohene Ntow, at the party’s headquarters in Accra.
His utterances confirmed DAILY GUIDE’s earlier publication that a number of aspirants were holding behind-the-scenes talks for possible alliances towards the party’s December congress. He also indicated that even in the face of any alliance, the other aspirants would have to be absolved into his camp.
“My coming here is to confirm my full participation. I am now in the race fully, and fully to win. Well, we will welcome any alliances but the most important thing is to get a good leader for the party, and I believe I have what it takes to snatch the baton from President Kufuor,” he said, adding that history was not for the faint-hearted.
Presenting a cheque for ¢250 million as his filing fee, he assured the General Secretary that in the ‘unlikely event’ of losing in the primaries, he would throw his weight behind the aspirant that carries the day.
Hon. Agyemang, the third aspirant to return his form after Alan ‘Cash’ Kyerematen and Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, said he hoped the NPP would win the 2008 elections and hand over power to itself on 7th January, 2009.
Yesterday’s development, coupled with the entry of another aspirant, Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, had made it possible for the NPP purse to swell to a staggering ¢845 million (GH¢84,500) in less than two weeks. He was happy that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party had underscored the need for clean campaign and hoped all aspirants would rise to the occasion.
Responding, Nana Ohene Ntow said the party had come a long way as regards its internal democracy, and that he was not surprised that the flagbearership race of the party had generated so much public interest. He reminded Mr. Owusu Agyeman of the code of conduct guiding preparations for the congress and stressed the need for all aspirants to maintain the party’s good name and integrity.
Nana Ntow said the campaigns should be devoid of insults and coercion, and warned that aspirants would be held accountable for the misdemeanor of their supporters. Contributing, Hackman’s communications director, Dr. Niyi Alabi said the aspirant’s contribution to the party was unparalleled, saying he was second to none when it comes to commitment to the party.
According to Dr. Alabi, Hackman had demonstrated his selflessness during the party’s most trying times and noted that coupled with his experience both locally and internationally, he was the best person to lead the party. It would be recalled that DAILY GUIDE published in yesterday’s issue how a number of the aspirants were neck-deep in behind-the-scenes horse-trading for possible alliances ahead of time. The paper said it was reliably informed that even though all aspirants had paid for and collected nomination forms, not all would return them.
In a related development, Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, Ghana’s Ambassador to Japan, has also made good his promise to join the race by picking his nomination form. He told the media he was not threatened by the number of aspirants in the race and would go all out to win it. Asked whether his late entry was not a ploy to join forces later on, he said: “When a woman keeps long in a bathroom it means she is preparing herself. My brother, if you are looking for an aspirant who will bow out of the race then you will have to look elsewhere.”
On what kind of leader he hoped to be, he said a good president must have a vision for a minimum of 25 years, and be a good listener, which qualities he was endowed with. He and John Kwame Koduah were the only aspirants who were yet to begin touring the 230 constituencies.
Observers strongly believe that any alliance could lead to the formation of regional and ethnic blocs in the party.