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Politics of Thursday, 29 March 2012

Source: The Informer

NPP 2012 Running Mate Slot: Akyems Beat Ashantis

And Tension Rises In Kumasi

Intelligence Desk Report

Credible reports picked up by The Informer have it that, there has been rising tension among the rank and file of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, particular, Kumasi following the choice of Dr, Mahamudu Bawumia, for the second time as that party’s Vice Presidential candidate for the December 2012 Ghana’s general election.
The Informer was told yesterday by one of the Ashanti Region’s NPP MPs, (name withheld), who is presently in Kumasi monitoring the on-going voter registration exercise in his constituency and summoned some party executives to a meeting at his residence (not to be disclosed for now) soon after it was announced that the National Council of Elders has endorsed Dr. Bawumia to partner Nana Akufo-Addo for the 2012 general election.
Pleading for anonymity for fear of victimization, one of the party executives taking part in the meeting told this paper that, it was concluded after hours of deliberation that everything humanely be done to ensure that Akufo-Addo shouldn’t win the election, since he has decided not to heed to wise counseling from those who matter in the party.
“My brother, look, the decision arrived at may be worrying as far as the party’s interest is concerned, but it is time we make it clear to Nana Addo and his Akyem group that, they can’t win election without getting support from the Ashanti Region since they have decided to do things their way”, the source hinted.
“In fact, it was decided that the region play little role, and if possible, not campaign at all for Nana Addo in the upcoming general election; so he will lose and go away with his baggage, that for years has become an albatross on the neck of party; so that the party will better organized for the 2016 election where Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, with his clean record will be made to lead the party”, he added.
“Let me ask you, judging from the voter turn-out from the Ashanti region, can Nana Addo win election with the results from the Eastern region alone where he comes from or what?
It can never be possible that Nana Addo or the NPP can win election without the Ashanti region, and that is why we have decided to take a backstage in this year’s presidential election for the party to lose for Nana Addo and his Akyem group to know that they do not matter in the party“, he pointed out saying, the Akyem caucus made up of Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko and co feel they are important than those of us who make things happen and will not listen to wise counseling as they throw their weights about.
Ask why this decision at this last hour when the party wants power badly and holds the view that it must win this year’s election “at all cost”, he replied that the ambition to come back to power will only materialized, when their presidential candidate and his vice are marketable and are accepted by the populace.
“ Nana Addo’s baggage alone is “wahala” for the party and now that Bawumia is also going to add his, there is no need to waste energy than to wish them doom, for both of them to go away with their troubles, so that the party can be re-branded to win the 2016 election”, he stated further.
“Mr. Reporter, the decision has been reached and we shall apply it to its logical conclusion to ensure that Nana Addo loses; so that we the Ashantis can take over the party, period”, he concludes.
It would be recalled that Hons P.C. Appiah-Ofori, J.H. Mensah and other leading members in the NPP have kicked against the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia ticket, sensing the danger involved as far as this year’s election is concerned: But now that the card has landed on the banker and Ashanti caucus has resolved to show Akufo-Addo and his Akyem cabal a lesson, we live to see what those in the NDC who wants the downfall of President Mills will do.