Politics of Friday, 3 June 2005

Source: --

Race To Replace Dan Botwe Intensifies

The race to replace Dan Botwe, now minister for Information continues to gather steam as the date for national executive elections draws near. It is fixed for Monday October 17, 2005. As of now, eight individuals have signaled their intention to replace Dan Botwe.

They are Nana Ohene Ntow, Government spokesman on Finance, Ferdinand Ayim, Special Assistant to the minister for tourism and modernization of the Capital city, Kwadwo Afare, press secretary, Andy Appiah-Kubi, deputy director, Free Zones Board, Abeeku Dickson, former Acting director of the National Service Scheme, Owusu Afriyie, a legal practitioner popularly called Sir John and Lord Commey, the party's national organiser. This will be the keenest of all the positions to be contested. The general secretary of the party is the hub around whom the party evolves.

He is the chief spokesman of the party, the chief scribe, the administrative head and the custodian of its rules and regulations. He is also the chief disciplinarian of the party. What makes the task difficult for those seeking to replace Dan Botwe is that, He was seen by most people, especially those outside NPP circles, as a very effective ?General' his passionate and erudite defence of the party and its policies and programmes were admired by all.

As general secretary, he led the party to two successive by-election victories. A great number of insiders however think that he left behind a very weak party. The party currently has no effective propaganda machinery and no research unit. Indeed, there is little sign of a clear vision for the party and things are usually done on and ad-hoc basis.