-End of Road for Nana?

-JM’s 2nd Term in Danger

Story by Alhaji Bature Iddrisu & A.A Yayra

The outcome of the Tamale conference of the opposition New Patriotic Party to elect new national officers to manage the party for the next four years did not all together come as a surprise to The aL-hAJJ as we have weeks before the event predicted those who will emerge winners.

Though this paper forecast some candidates flying on the wings of former President Kufuor would beat Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s sponsored candidates, mainly incumbent executives, it was never anticipated that the Kufuor’s men could have wreak such ‘havoc’ to the twice defeated presidential candidate and his linchpins.

Even as the outcome of the conference may have slimed Nana Akufo-Addo’s chances of leading the party into election for the third time, party insiders say results from the Tamale conference has played to the advantage of the former Foreign Minister’s twice political partner, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia whom he (Nana Akufo-Addo) had put on the standby to contest the presidency in the events all odds go against him.

This paper is on record to have reported prior to Nana Akufo-Addo’s revelation, he would contest the NPP’s flag bearer slot for the fourth and possible last time that, the NPP’s twice defeated presidential candidate was preoccupied with two key factors for consideration of his candidature; the availability of resources to prosecute the 2016 elections and the outlook or performance of the Mahama government in delivering on its promises.

As of the time The aL-hAJJ reported on the aforementioned considerations, which also included Nana Addo’s advancing age and health status, little did we anticipate, and our sources could not also reveal that Nana Akufo-Addo’s political future was also hinged on the outcome of last Saturday’s conference.

Information gathered by The aL-hAJJ after the NPP conference indicates that Nana Akufo-Addo is combing for other options to boost his political fortunes and make him relevant in the NPP scheme of things after his preferred candidates miserably lost all sensitive positions in the party to his internal rival camps.

Having added another dimension to the internal politics of the NPP as the party gears up to elect a flag bearer later this year, Nana Akufo-Addo’s announced third time bid is said to be deflated following the heavy thrashing of his preferred candidate.

And as if already sensing the ‘massacre’ of their sponsored candidates, Nana Akufo-Addo’s nephew and chief spin doctor, Gabby Asare Otchere Darkoh, few minutes to the start of the conference posted on his facebook wall:

“The more I read and hear all the mudslinging among teams competing for NPP national office positions the more I ask: is it all worth it? There is a lot of wisdom in Jake's proposal that choose the leader first. But, I will go further than Jake and ask, do parties have to elect their national chairman, general secretary, national organiser and treasurer, etc, at all?”

“…We must consider having them selected by the leader (Presidential candidate or President) in consultation with the National Council or National Delegates' Conference. We can't make 'democracy' an albatross! Too much is spent, materially and emotionally, in this exercise with its concomitant issues of disunity. To run a party need not be a popularity contest. After all, the refrain is 'competence'; I will add loyalty/commitment”. Gabby states.

All is not lost

Though all the incumbent national executives aside the National Women Organizer, who were part of Nana Akufo-Addo’s army could not secure the needed victory to boost their chances, the former Foreign Affairs minister under the Kufuor administration is said not to have given up on his resolve to ‘control’ the party.

Prior to conference, Nana Akufo-Addo was reported to have vowed to throw his weight behind his twice failed vice presidential candidate, Dr Bawumia to ascend to the presidency that is, if he does not get the opportunity to lead the country.

Even though Nana Akufo Addo and former President Kufuor are miles apart in terms of support for candidates contesting for national executives positions, the former Foreign minister’s decision to back Bawumia in the event he decides not to contest is said to have the full support of former President Kufuor, whom reports say is absolutely against Akufo Addo’s third time bid.

The consensus among the two, according to reliable source was that whiles Akufo Addo favours Bawumia as the next flag bearer of the NPP, former President Kufuor who is reported to have dumped his former protégé, Alan Kyeremanten and has no objection to Bawumia, however, wants MP for Essekado Ketan and second deputy speaker of Parliament, Mr Joe Ghartey to partner Bawumia as his running mate for the 2016 polls.

The ‘gentleman’s’ agreement, therefore, is seen by the two NPP most influential personalities as win-win situation as Dr Bawumia was said to have been proposed by his boss Nana Akufo-Addo and Mr Kufuor on his part also nominated the Essekado Ketan MP as a possible running mate.

Bawumia in the driving seat

Becoming almost like the lucky bird in the NPP, Dr Bawumia who was not known to be a member of the NPP but was selected ahead of famous and committed NPP gurus to partner Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2008 elections; is set to benefit profoundly from the outcome of the Tamale conference.

As customary with Ghanaians, Dr Bawmumia maybe be sympathizing with his boss, Nana Akufo-Addo who is reported to have buried his head down, biting his nail, for an almost end to his political career due to the outcome of the Tamale conference; Bawumia is also said to be smiling in quite as all indications are pointing to the fact that he would be the next leader of the Daquah-Busia-Dombo group.

Therefore, if all should go well as planned by Nana Akufo-Addo and Mr Kufuor, then the former, who though has announced few days to his 70 birthday at his Nima residence that he was ready to lead the party again for the third time, may have to hang his gloves and make way for the former deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana.

As part of his plans to ‘shepherd’ Dr Bawumia to stardom, the septuagenarian politician is said to have told his protégée that he would contest the flag bearer and after that name him as usual as his running mate.

But, few weeks to official filing of nominations with the Electoral Commission of Ghana, he (Nana) will pull out of the race, citing advice from his doctors, in which case the NPP would be hard press for time to go for another congress to elect a new flag bearer and he (Bawumia) with support from Kufuor, who now has his men controlling the party, would be made his successor.

According to the strategy, Dr Bawumia would also then name Mr Kufuor’s preferred candidate, Mr Joe Ghartey, who, as expected would be endorsed by all “the movers and shakers” in the party.

However, party insiders say for Akufo Addo, this whole permutation is subject to availability of resources for the 2016 elections especially now that political watchers say his age has made him unattractive to potential sponsors and the performance of the Mahama administration ahead of the 2016 election.

Sources say if Nana Akufo-Addo is able to shop for resources and should the Mahama administration perform poorly, of which the NPP’s chances of winning 2016 would have been brighten, Nana Akufo-Addo would by all means put himself up for the 2016 election but, only to win and hand over power to Dr Bawumia.

NAADA’s hasty 3rd time bid message

Deep throat sources disclosed to The aL-hAJJ that though Nana Akufo-Addo had agreed with former Presiddent Kufuor on the Bawumia and Joe Ghartey bid as an alternate plan, the two senior NPP members according to reports, were prior to the Tamale conference bent on seeing their henchmen secure national executive positions to strengthen their bargaining positions.

The idea was to get their allies elected to top positions in other to assume control of the party and direct how it should be managed. To beef up the campaign machinery of his preferred candidates, Nana Akufo-Addo’s hasty announcement of his third time bid, an insider disclosed; was to court support for his ideal candidates.

He is reported prior to the conference to have endorsed Fred Oware and Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John for the National Chairman and General Secretary positions respectively. Freddy Blay, Sammy Crabbe and F F Anto were all said to have been blessed by Nana Akufo-Addo to occupy the three vice chairman positions.

Madam Tina Mensah, Hopeson Adorye, Esther Ofori and Sammy Awuku were also said to have been endorsed by Nana Akufo-Addo for the women organizer, national organizer, treasurer and youth organizer positions.

Unfortunately for Nana Akufo-Addo, his rivals appeared to have paraded a more formidable team and they made a mess of his sponsored candidates.

Mr Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyepong, John Boadu, Otiko Afisa Dzaba, who are believed to have the backing of President Kufuor won their respective positions. Not even Nana Akufo-Addo’s physical presence in Tamale two days to the conference to campaign for his men could make any difference.

New face for 2016

After voting, it became clear that the NPP was no longer going to be led into the 2016 election with the ‘old’ executives, but by a new crop of leaders with new ideas. Business magnate Paul Afoko, who had to endure several crude machinations that nearly caused to his disqualification, was elected National Chairman.

Mr Freddy Blay, Sammy Crabbe and F.F Anto were also elected first; second and third vice chairman positions whiles John Boadu, Madama Otiko Afisa Dzaba, Kamal Deen Abdualai were elected National Organizer, National Women Organizer and NASARA coordinator respectively.

Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah and Sammy Awuku were voted Treasure and National Youth Organizer respectively.

Danger to Mahama

This new crop of leaders with diverse rich experience in politics and organizational skills, according to political pundits poses a danger to the second term bid of President John Dramani Mahama of the ruling National Democratic Congress.

Pundits say Mr Paul Afoko’s apt organizational skills, and in-depth political and analytical mind and northern background would add to support Dr. Bawumia to deliver the three northern regions, which have been safe haven for the ruling NDC since the inception of the 1992 Republican constitution.

Dr. Bawumia’s background as an influential Northerner, a Muslim, and a well-known Zongo man added to his political clout acquired since his discovery by Nana Akufo-Addo together with Paul Afoko now as chairmanship, many believe; the NDC’s dominance in the three northern regions and the Zongos could abruptly come to an end.

This, according to an insider, would aid the NPP to garner enough votes from the three northern regions plus the over 1000 Zongos across Ghana to add to the NPP’s traditional strongholds of Ashanti and Eastern. This is expected to push President Mahama and his NDC to an uncomfortable zone in 2016”.

The preference for Dr Bawumia’s possible running mate, Mr Ghartey (that is in the event Nana Akufo-Addo’s alternate plan goes through) who is also well-known and respected as an astute lawyer and legislator by his kinsmen from the Central and Western regions, is to snatch the Western and Central regions, which the NPP won in the 2000 and 2004 elections, but had to surrender it to the NDC in the last two elections.

Kwabena Agyepong’s in-depth knowledge in election matters with support from other equally competent newly elected executives could wreak havoc to the NDC and pose sever danger to the second term bid of President John Mahama.

Read below a number of stories we have carried prior to the NPP Tamale conference