Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyapong and Other New Faces: Elections 2016 No Go Be Joke

Victory for Paul Afoko and Kwabene Agyapong is an outcome Nana Akufo Addo should dread. More interestingly, an outcome the NDC must be very worried about. It seems the stage is set for a showdown in 2016, but even before then is a real competition in-house as the NPP look towards electing their next presidential candidate. The dynamics may just change. The voices that called Nana Akufo Addo to contest the flag bearer race, the fingers that texted him to persuade him not to retire from active partisan politics, and indeed the spiritual men who saw the vision of him hitting the Flag Staff house in his third attempt should brace themselves for a competition of a lifetime.

Surprisingly, Afoko rose from being the most vilified (almost disqualified) to take the seat of the highly respected and powerful national chairmanship position. Before this election, the word on the streets was that Afoko and Agyapong were anti-Nana Addo. A quick trip down memory lane, one is tempted to believe in this assertion especially that Paul Afoko was solidly in support of Alan Kyeremanteng in the run up to the presidential primaries at University of Ghana in 2007 while Kwabena contested in that same primaries to lead the party. In 2010, Kwabena’s allegiance to Alan was quite obvious though Alan lost miserably to Nana Addo in that contest. I foresee adherence to principle going forward. I quite remember Kwabena Agyapong citing age as one of the reasons he did not trust in Nana Addo’s candidature then (2007 and 2010). I guess if that is any point to hold on to, Kwabena Agyapong should not be supporting Nana’s new ambition. After all, age does not reduce over time. Does it?

The newly elected chairman of the NPP dwells in a dualism that has both inter and intra party implications. Intra-party, he comes with two powerful tools. A tool to “destroy” Nana Addo’s presidential ambition (by supporting and promoting Kuffour backed Alan Cash) and perhaps to serve as the remedy to the long held perception (what the NPP refers to as misconception) amongst many northern people that the NPP is anti-northern. If well harnessed, Afoko’s sweet victory may as well mark the beginning of the NPP’s journey to its roots – all-inclusiveness. A revert to its roots would absolve the bad image the party has suffered in northern Ghana and if this is coupled with strategic re-branding, the NPP may win the sympathy of the teaming unemployed youth up north. In effect, the choice of Afoko is the beginning of the NPP’s renaissance in northern Ghana.

The Tamale delegate’s conference though started on a very sad note (alleged shooting of 9 NPP party supporters by an unknown assailant) has turned out to be one of the most exciting ones in NPP’s recent history. The hospitality was at its peak, Tamale was very welcoming and the historic perspective captured in the speech by the 88 year old C. K Tandem at the conference ground was quite touchy (it re-iterated the inextricable link that the northern people have with the UP tradition which eventually metamorphosed to the NPP of today). Though many may deem that yet a political gimmick very typical of political parties in opposition, I think it was worthwhile. Amidst the euphoria with which the good people of Tamale received Nana Addo, and considering the party’s unpopularity with the largest group in the unfortunate protracted Dagbang dispute ( …and its effects on the NPP’s unsuccessful bid in the area of late) the least the NPP could have done was to express their need for the friendship of all (particularly from groups that do not accept them). Unfortunately, Nana Akufo Addo, a very prominent member of the NPP for whom many NPP followers in Tamale would kill or die did not take the advantage this rare opportunity presented him. He did not find it customarily prudent to call on the custodians of the land (Dakpemah and Gukpenaa). Also, knowing pretty well that the Sunni Muslim sect is the largest Muslim group in Tamale, a strategic politician would have called on their leadership as well. Nana Addo did not find this basic courtesy necessary and that pricks my mind especially when I refer to the thought of Dr. Arthur Kennedy that Nana Addo and the NPP have not learnt from their mistakes (in the book: Chasing the Elephant to the bush). Wouldn’t a future show of courtesy toward these chiefs (especially during campaigns) in the event that Nana Addo gets the nod to lead the NPP to election 2016 be deemed fake? This is not nuclear physics; I expected every member of the Nana Addo team to know this fundamental routine that seem to be very popular amongst politicians. These little lapses have far reaching effects on the fortunes of the party particularly in this particular area where their grip on the numbers is loose.

The information I gathered regarding why Nana Addo did not make it to the chiefs in Tamale is quite worrying and cast doubts on the ability of the leadership of the NPP in Tamale to control their youth. From all indication, it was the youth that prevented Nana Addo from calling on the Gukpenaa and the Dakpemah. How could this be? I expected a better leadership in that case. Subsequently, Nana Addo visited a “lesser chief” somewhere in a town near Tamale (a regent who is openly NPP and once served as a security advisor to President Kuffour). This pettiness on the part of politicians has caused the good people of Dagbang so much. Is it not enough? …anyway, to require a visitor to be at his best behavior towards one’s tradition and customs, one necessarily must demonstrate his own respect for his own traditional hierarchy. To this end, Nana Addo may not be entirely the one to blame. His handlers who should know very well the customs of the area where they serve in various party leadership positions. If these things are not curtailed the likelihood of gross disrespect for chiefs in Dagbang by politicians and their followers would be far reaching.

All in all, I think things will never be the same. The realization of the need to elect serious minded people to lead the NPP is self-evident that quality was not compromised. The journey to decide on the next flag bearer of the NPP has just begun. From where I sit, I see the pressure now on the NDC. Will the NDC maintain their invisible chairman (Note: Not Invincible oooo, yoo) or opt for a more proactive and vibrant one who can match the quality, energy and passion that defines the personality of Paul Afoko? While it is deserving of the NPP to start their Thanksgiving session across the country for a successful delegate’s conference, it is equally essential that the NDC start seeing beyond its nose. “Oya!” …over to you - NDC.

By: Abdallah Malcolm

Email: iabdallah81@gmail.com