Akufo-Addo Gets Another Boost

A Media survey conducted by the office of The Chronicle in Takoradi among journalists in the Western Region, numbering eighty-three on the impending presidential primary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has placed Nana Akuffo-Addo, the man who leads the polls in the Research International (RI) report, as a rank front runner, scoring 40 out of the 83 journalists interviewed.

Reporters are not delegates and have no vote though the result of the survey parallels almost to that of RI which has been the subject of derision by leading members of Vice President Aliu Mahama’s team, using the alibi that none of the delegates had being contacted. ‘I have been contacted two or three times by Research International in their surveys, admitted Issah Abu, Constituency Secretary of Effia-Kwesimintsim, putting an end to those who used that as an alibi to discredit the work of RI, the Nyaniba Estates-based Research House in the capital.

On December 22, the NPP will be going to congress to elect their flagbearer who will eventually lead the party to contest the 2008 elections. But this survey which lasted close to two months, from first September to 26th October, has results collectively collated by this reporter revealed that Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo, former Foreign Affairs and NEPAD Minister, has been tipped by many journalists as the most popular leader in NPP to lead the party and possibly the nation.

This reporter included in his survey two questions each to the journalists from 18 media houses, both electronic and print, 13 from the Sekondi –Takoradi Metropolis, three from Tarkwa in the Wassa West District and two from Enchi in the Aowin Suaman District of the region. The question was simple; who among the numerous aspirants of the party is capable of leading the NPP, the nation and the reason for the choice. Indisputably, out of the 83 sampled by this reporter, Nana Addo polled the highest number among the respondents.

Many of the journalists questioned said he was the most courageous leader and competent performer, both locally and internationally, and described him as the leader of the moment to take over from the sitting president. Fourty (40) journalists said they had no doubt that he had been recognised by delegates, according to their interactions with them, as the man to take over from President John Agyekum Kufuor by all standards. They explained that among other things, he was next to the sitting president in the last primary in 1998 which they believed was a plus for him. Another major factor they mentioned was the recognition Ghana had gained globally in recent times due to his efforts and able leadership. This, they considered, placed him above all the other contenders.

Mr. Ebo Benjamin, Editor of Triekie FM at Enchi, could not hide his support for Nana Addo. He told The Chronicle he would bet with his last money that Nana was going to clinch the top position. He further described Nana as a promising flagbearer, adding that, “If Nana Addo did not get the nod, he, as a person, might not be bothered but his supporters will think the party had not been fair to him.” Next to Nana Addo was Alan Kyeremanten, former Minster of Trade, Industry and PSI, who had 20 of the journalists rooting for his candidature. They believed he possessed all the qualities the party and the nation needed. Characteristically, they failed to mention his achievements, but said he was popular, charismatic and very handsome to charm voters for his party during the general elections, including floating voters. None of his admirers wanted their names mentioned as the scent of cedi hung heavily in the air.

Meanwhile, next was the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama whose admirers in the media in the region said he stood the chance of bridging the development gap between the North and the South. He had 13 journalists on his side out of the 83. One of them who could stick his neck out was a retired journalist now on contract with Ghanaian Times, Mr. Godfred K. Nyani, who explained that Aliu was indeed one of the many good statesmen Ghana has had, because of his conduct in the NPP government and the existing peace and proper coordination that existed between him and the President over the last seven years of the NPP administration. “His humility in the service to the nation will give him the nod come 22 December,” he argued. He, together with journalists who believed in the Vice President’s candidature did not also mention his achievements. There was very little to say as the Veep’s cannot be said to be in charge of a particular portfolio except that of ‘indiscipline’ which he had made his pet subject. The constitution limits him to the chairmanship of the Police Council and to only what the President assigns to him.

Meanwhile, the aspirant to clinch the fourth place was former Minister of Science and Sports and one-time Finance and Economic Planning Minister in the Kufour administration, Yaw Osafo Maafo. He had 8 of the 83 journalists on his side who trumpeted the achievements of the former minister and his capabilities of being a leader of the party and the nation. They cited the FIFA World Cup qualification of the Black Stars, the HIPC Initiative that brought Ghana’s economy to the current shape as well as the current education reforms all to his credit. His was an amazing record of achievements but it did not reflect in the magnitude of his support for some strange reason.

Apart from the four, the next person who had his name mentioned was the immediate former Minister of Education Science and Sports Papa Owusu-Ankomah who had two persons speaking for him. They mentioned the contributions of the Sekondi MP to the development of the Western Region and the country and cited the Sekondi/Essipon Stadium as one of the development projects that go to his credit. Apart from the above-mentioned names, none of the other aspirants received a mention in The Chronicle survey. The survey was conducted by this reporter, using occasions where journalists converged such as the recent fund-raising dinner dance organised by the NPP that had a very impressive turn out of journalists in the region.

Another event used in the survey was this year’s celebration of the Kundum Festival of Nsein Traditional Area that also had a good turn out. Those polled came from Good News FM, Skyy Power FM, Twincity Radio, Radio Maxx and Kyzz Fm. Others were ROK FM, Melody FM all in Sekondi-Takoradi, including some print media houses’ regional correspondents. They included Daily Guide, Network Herald, Heritage, Ghanaian Times and The Chronicle. Two reporters each from Aowin Suaman working with Trieky Fm and Max Fm were also interviewed during this survey.

In addition, Space FM and Dynamite FM reporters in Tarkwa in the Wassa West District were interviewed in the survey. Television stringers numbering three in the region were also not left out of this exercise. Meanwhile, the NPP National Executive Committee has indicated that vetting of the NPP aspirants will begin today. Nana Akufo-Addo and Arthur Kennedy returned their nomination papers yesterday.