Since the Supreme Court of Ghana gave its verdict on the 29th August 2013 on the Presidential election petition affirming the validity of John Dramani Mahama as President of Ghana, the next issue that has engaged the attention of NPP followers and even non followers has been the issue of who leads the party to election 2016.
Names such as Nana Akuffo Addo, Dr. Bawumia, Hon. Isaac Osei, Dr Konadu Apraku, Hon. Alan Kyeremanteng, Dr Richard Anane, Hon. Dan Botwe and a host of other names have been making the rounds within NPP circles.
Various reasons are being adduced as to why one person or the other qualifies to lead the NPP in election 2016. I will try to recount some of the reasons in this article which I will be writing in several parts.
There are some in the NPP who still think the 2012 Presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Akuffo Addo, should be maintained as the party’s candidate for election 2016. To those people, he was not necessarily defeated in both the 2008 and 2012 elections that he led the party into but rather those elections were rigged. To such people, once the evidence came out during the election petition hearing, it is only usual and fair to let him be the automatic candidate of the NPP for election 2016.
Some are also of the view that he is very popular in the political scene of Ghana and that many misconceptions to the effect that he was a violent person was demystified following the way he readily accepted the election verdict and even called John Dramani Mahama to congratulate him after the Supreme Court verdict. To such persons, presenting him for election 2016 will do the NPP every good.
There are some who think some persons in the party worked against Nana Addo so their preferred persons could lead the party for election 2016 and think Nana Addo should not give way for such people.
Some of those who are against a Nana Addo leadership of the party for election 2016 are of the view that age has caught up with him and that it was only ideal to step aside for a more energetic person to lead the party. Another view is that since he has unsuccessfully led the party into two election defeats, it was only prudent that he steps down honourably.
There are also those who are of the opinion that the quickest way he accepted the election petition verdict and said he was not to seek a review was a classical case of sacrificing the NPP to enhance his political destiny hence should be rejected.
Some also think Nana Addo should not come into the race to create room for non performing officers of the party from the constituencies to national level to ride on his popularity to retain their positions to the detriment of getting the right persons to lead the NPP.
The next person who is seen to be the best to lead the NPP into election 2016 is Dr Mahamoud Bawumia. He was Nana Addo’s running mate for elections 2008 and 2012. Those in favour of Dr Bawumia are of the view that he has been marketed enough and popular politically now and should therefore be given the nod to lead the party.
Some are also of the view that the election petition of the NPP at the Supreme Court was a product of his effort in terms of gathering the data and witnessing in chief in Court. To those people, he carried himself about very well and proved to be very intelligent and should therefore be allowed to lead the party.
There are also some people who held the view that the time has come for the NPP to demystify itself of the Akan perception by fielding Dr. Bawumia for 2016. To those people, any candidate rather than Dr Bawumia will be suicidal for the party.
Another group thinks that he has sacrificed his family and job to serve the NPP over the years and should be compensated with the leadership mantle of the party. His youthful characteristics have been seen as an added advantage.
Those against Dr Bawumia think that Nana Addo will remote control him should he be picked as the Presidential candidate of the party for election 2016. Others think he is new in the party and cannot suddenly become the flag-bearer of the NPP for next election.
The next person who some party people think best qualifies to lead the NPP for election 2016 is Hon. Isaac Osei. He is currently the NPP MP for the Subin constituency in Ashanti region. He is seen to be gentle, calm and has very good repo ire both inside and outside the NPP. Those who support his candidate think he can be a unifying factor for the NPP in 2016.
To those people, once he has ever contested the Presidential race in the past coupled with past working life in various sectors of the economy, they think the party should go for him. Some of his supporters think that he will be a very clean person for election 2016.
Those against the candidature of Hon. Isaac Osei says he seems to be pre-occupied with his role as MP for Subin than he is working to be seen as the next President of Ghana.
Watch out for part (II) for a continuation of who leads NPP for election 2016.
By Akilu Sayibu
Email Akilu.Sayibu@live.uwe.ac.uk