He's a party man, with national and international appeal

Virtually every candidate or his team thinks the contest for President John Agyekum Kufuor's successor within the New Patriotic Party is between him and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He is by far the common denominator, seen by the field of 17 as the man to attempt to beat.

Analyses made by The Statesman of various surveys indicate that Nana Akufo-Addo is the most complete candidate of them all. This appears to be the majority view within the NPP, which is also shared by the highest number of the general public.

For example while Dan Botwe, like Nana, is seen as a true blue, rolled-sleeves party man, he pales in comparison to Nana on national appeal and international exposure. While Mr Kyerematen may have the backing of the presidency, he’s finding it difficult to convince his party of his political history and political leadership. His strong reliance on President Kufuor’s influence is also being interpreted as prospects of an Alan presidency in which he may not be his own man.

However, Alan Kyerematen believes the December 22 flagbearership contest is between him and Nana. Indeed, The Statesman can report that this view is shared by the presidency, which is nervously monitoring the progress of Mr Botwe. Kofi Konadu Apraku, the former Minister for NEPAD and Regional Cooperation has said that the race is between him and the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, NEPAD and Regional Cooperation. He has also told The Statesman that "it’s between me and Nana Addo.”

Again, just yesterday an intimate member of Vice President Aliu Mahama’s team told our Editor-in-Chief, “Alan and Dan are not in the race - the contest is between Vice and Nana, period!”

The campaign manager of Kwame Addo-Kufuor had also told The Statesman earlier that the real battle on the ground is between his man and Nana Akufo-Addo. Dan Botwe, Kwabena Agyepong, and virtually all the candidates recognize the formidability of the Akufo-Addo candidacy.

In fact, Mr Agyepong has said that if the majority sentiment of the NPP congress is for a leader from the younger generation then the contest is between him and Dan. But, if the decision is to stick to the “old guard” then Akufo-Addo would win hands down. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Akyem Oda MP and another top contender, also recognizes that the biggest challenger is his colleague MP from Abuakwa South, Nana Akufo-Addo.

The Akufo-Addo factor has been long at the forefront of this succession battle in spite of the fact that he stayed away from campaigning until last year. Even then because of his numerous foreign assignments it took him 13 months to complete his first national tour. The Statesman can report that a succession of opinion polls conducted by the Castle since March 2006 have consistently placed Nana Akufo-Addo in the lead.

The latest being the last couple of Research International opinion polls both of which gave Nana a commanding lead, with as much as 18 percentage points ahead of his closest rival in one. The August RI poll placed Nana as the most popular aspirant in the country, within, as well as outside of the NPP.

Indeed, The Statesman can further disclose that intelligence reports gathered by the government suggest that the former Foreign Minister would be “the least difficult presidential candidate” to market to the general electorate in 2008.

Nana also enjoys an unassailable popularity outside of Ghana. His successful four and a half years national service as Foreign Minister has made him an internationally recognized figure, on first name terms with several world leaders.

As our front page picture illustrates, he has presided over the United Nation’s Security Council; negotiated on behalf of Africa on economic relations with the European Union; persuaded Charles Taylor to step down as Liberian leader, among other landmark diplomatic feats.