Ashanti Region was very busy at the weekend as far as the campaign to elect the presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party is concerned. At least three popular candidates were there to sell their message to the party in a region considered to be the heart of the ruling party.

One such leading contender was the Minister of Water Resources, Works & Housing, Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, who during his weekend tour was hailed by NPP constituency executives for his exemplary contribution to the party since 1992. In choosing who carries the party flag for the December 2008 presidential election, the presidential aspirant repeated his message that the NPP delegates should be guided by "the person's commitment to the party. What has he done for the party over the years? What has he done for his constituency? What has he done for the nation, especially as a public servant? What has he achieved in life before or beyond politics."

According to reports received by The Statesman, his message was well received, with his hosts concluding that he would be a worthy successor to President John Agyekum Kufuor. The message centred on party unity and his personal contribution to the party.

The constituency officers he visited observed that combining his party commitments and performance as a minister, the man dubbed the Action Man would be more than a safe pair of hands to control the reins of power after 2008. His strong appeal to the potential delegates for the NPP congress (expected to be held on December 15) was for them to seek "to award those who have consistently sacrificed for the party." At least four out of the ten constituency delegates for the NPP National Congress will definitely be constituency executives.

Hackman"s audience duly acknowledged his achievements, describing him as a man who has stayed true to the party from the beginning and still continues to contribute his outstanding quota both directly to the party and generally to the nation as a public servant.

As the party’s first National Treasurer, Mr Owusu-Agyemang, who is also MP for New Juaben North, Eastern Region, was one of the three national executives who appended their signatures to have the New Patriotic Party registered in 1992. The constituencies visited were New Edubiase, Adansi Asokwa, Fomena, Atwima Kwanwoma, Offinso North, Offinso South, and Afigya Sekyere West.

The constituency officers recalled the contribution of Hackman during the formative years of the NPP and the self sacrifices he made when the NPP was in opposition.

Some of the Ashanti party executives in the constituencies visited used the opportunity to advise their colleagues nationwide not to be swayed by money but to rather examine each candidate critically and vote for someone who has excellent leadership skills and has shown unflinching commitment and loyalty to the cause of the NPP.

They observed that as a foot-soldier and founding member of the NPP, Hackman feels the pulse of the rank and file and remains in a strong vantage position to emphatically connect with the concerns of the grassroots.

The Minister, who is in his mid-sixties, spoke about the maturity and the international and local experience necessary for one to become a complete leader of a nation. On the question of age, the delegates, in turn, responded that the flagbearer of the NPP should be mature in both age and experience. They see in Mr Owusu-Agyemang a man who is tried and tested, well advanced in age, who has time and time again shown the capacity to bring his varied experience in life to making the kind of important decisions required of leadership.

In addition to experience, some of the constituency officers noted that the country needs a dynamic, purposeful, transformative and visionary leader. This year, the presidential aspirant began his tour of Ashanti Region in February, touring 16 of the 39 constituencies in the Ashanti Region. On that trip, he impressed on his audience that it was time to reward commitment and loyalty.

He also appealed to the potential delegates to recognise that running a country is a serious business that requires experience, wisdom and strong leadership. In a no-nonsense message delivered earlier at some of the Ashanti constituencies, including Manhyia, Kumawu, Juaben, Ejisu, Asante Akyem North and Asante Akyem South, Hackman said, "You can’t give [the leadership of this party and the nation] to a novice. Whoever gets it must be cut out for the job. Running a country is a serious business."

Those in the presidential aspirant’s entourage spoke to the audience about the Minister’s achievements both for the party and in his private life to the constituency executives, describing him as "somebody who understands business. An international diplomat, a technocrat, a grass-roots man, a seasoned politician, a self-made man, result-oriented, a team player, who has what it takes to win the elections for the NPP."