Age not relevant in presidential contest – Arthur K

Amidst the factionalisms in the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to get certain personalities elected by the delegates as the Flagbearer to wrestle power from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2016 general, the age of NPP Presidential hopefuls has become a dominant feature by some members of the party.

But a leading member of the party says governance is about the mind and not age.


Addressing the current internal bickering within the largest opposition party mainly by followers of Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen over who to lead the party against the NDC in the 2016 elections, Dr. Kobina Arthur Kennedy admonished that the members should stop dwelling on issues that divide the party.


The Communications Director for the NPP in the 2008 Campaign cautioned the rank and file of the party to desist from peddling falsehoods that Ex-President Kufuor is the cause of the rift in the party.

Dr. Arthur Kennedy told the host of “Adeakye Abea” on Okay FM that the supporters of Nana Akufo-Addo should press the hush button of the mantra “No Nana, No Vote and Nana should go unopposed” and allow anyone who wants to contest to join the race.


He pointed out that “the Presidential contest is not a football match where age limit is a factor in selecting a candidate. It is only in football that we can use age as a factor to disqualify a candidate from playing; however old age is a mark of blessing and it is by God’s Grace that Nana Addo has reached that age in life….we are all praying to God for a long life and if God has been merciful to Nana and he still wants to contest for the flagbearership, we should allow him to contest. We can only criticize certain things we dislike in the party but the fact that someone is old is not a factor to consider in selecting a flagbearer”.


“For me, any candidate the delegates will choose for the party, I will support him but I will advise the delegates that, electing a flagbearer does not mean you have elected a President…..delegates should take into consideration to elect a flagbearer who can win the general elections for the party, otherwise it will be useless to elect a Presidential candidate who cannot win the elections,” he advised.