A former flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, says his popularity seemed to have waned within the Dankwa-Busia-Dombo tradition because in the past few years some elements in the NPP fold deliberately ganged up to tag him as too ambitious and impatient.

For him, this perception created by such people years ago greatly affected him and his chances in front line politics within the opposition NPP.

He said he was appalled to learn from within the NPP that he was clandestinely lacing his boot to contest President John Agyekum Kufuor in 2004 for the NPP Presidential slot.

“Absolutely unthinkable that I would as a minister serving in his government, coming from the same region; popular as he was;that I would come out to stand against him. But eventually we know all the people that spread that rumour and it was deliberate, Dr. Konadu Apraku told Bola Ray on Starr Chat Wednesday.

Meanwhile reports suggested that the former Trades Minister collapsed after he learnt that he had obtained some 19 votes in the presidential primary which elected Nana Akufo-Addo as the presidential candidate.

Although the former Member of Parliament for Offinso said he was shocked by his performance in the race he did not collapse therefater.

“Absolutely not true, I did not obtain one vote…I was absolutely surprised, I thought we had done my work but given the number of people in the race I think we lost focus.”

The Investment Banker tipped the flagbearer of the NPP to win this year’s election saying “Nana Addo is very focused…and not going to allow anything to come his way.”

Profile of Dr. Apraku

DR. Kofi Konadu Apraku was born on September 7, 1954 at Akumadan in the Ashanti Region.

He had his secondary education at the Tweneboa Kodua Secondary School between 1967 and 1972 and proceeded to South Albany High School in Oregon, U.S.A. after winning an AFS International essay competition after which he pursed a four-year course at the Oregon State University.

He obtained a Masters of Science at the same university, and completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree at the Ohio State University, specialising in Economic Development.

Dr. Apraku is a former Minister of Regional Co-operation and NEPAD, and also Minister of Trade and Industry. He also served as a Member of Parliament for Offinso North Constituency.