Akufo-Addo’s men schemed to get Kufuor replaced in 1998

A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who sup­ports the Alan for President 2016 campaign, Dr Richard Anane has dropped a bombshell that could be the source of friction between Nana Akufo-Addo and ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor.

Speaking at the campaign launch of Alan John Kyerematen, Dr Anane alleged that after NPP delegates elected John Agyekum Kufuor as their presidential candidate in 1998, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, who was a leading member of Nana Akufo-Addo’s campaign team at the time, and some others he did not mention schemed to have John Agyekum Kufuor dropped and replaced by their candidate.

According to Dr Anane, Adjiri Blankson and some other members of Nana Addo’s campaign team who he did not mention prevailed on the late Bernard Joao Da Rocha, a.k.a. B.J. Da Rocha, and the then chairman of the NPP, Mr. Samuel Odoi-Sykes, as well as other executives to drop John Agyekum Kufuor, the elected presidential candidate, and replace him with their candidate.

He said the recent calls on other candidates to step down for Nana Akufo-Addo was reminiscent of what happened in 1998, describing the calls as a disrespect for delegates.

On the October 18 Delegates’ Congress, Dr Anane described the three-month campaign period given to aspirants as unjustified, saying the party’s constitution prescribed six months for campaigning before elections.

He therefore called on the national executives to take a second look at the date for the primaries, saying: “How can a losing candidate accept to support the winner?”

Dr Anane endorsed Mr Kyerematen and asked delegates to vote for him.

He charged delegates to resist people working against party Chairman Paul Afoko and General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong.

He enumerated Mr Kyerematen’s achievement under President Kufuor and challenged others who served under President Kufuor to also tell Ghanaians what their achievements were.

Even though Alan Kyerematen has come under intense pressure to with­draw from the flagbearership race to allow two-time flagbearer Nana Akufo- Addo to be crowned the party's nominee for the 2016 presidential election, he has maintained he is capable of overcoming the odds and winning the nomination.

On his part, Mr Kyerematen, sup­ported by his wife, explained that his decision not to step down does not mean he hates Nana Addo; rather, he sees him as a big brother.

He told supporters that he would sup­port Nana Akufo-Addo fully if the 2012 presidential candidate is elected at the October 18 delegates’ congress.

According to him, God has given the NPP two keys: the first has been tried, but it did not work so it is time to try the second key, and that would open the door.

Alan promised a first-round victory for the party in the 2016 general elections should he be elected the flagbearer.

“I want you to understand that the decision that you are about to take will affect the results in the future so think about how we can win the general elections. If you vote for Alan Kyerematen, one will lead the party to win the 2016 elections one touch,” he said.

He also assured of a massive trans­formation of the party: “Vote for me and Ghana in the next three to five years will see a change in our party and even in Africa.”

Mr Kyerematen also promised to pay salaries to all party polling station and constituency executives if they elect him to lead the party for the 2016 elections.

He said: “The time has come for these executives to see their respective positions as full-time jobs.

“For our party to be strong at the grassroots with polling station executives working hard, I promise again that when you vote for me I will make sure that polling station executives, electoral area coordinators and constituency executives are paid as full-time party executives,” he stressed.

According to Mr Kyerematen, who is the main competitor to Nana Akufo- Addo, the two-time former presidential candidate of the NPP, he will invest huge resources to “oil” the party’s campaign machinery in the lead-up to the 2016 elections if he is voted as flagbearer.

Spokesperson for Mr Kyerematen, Nana Ohene Ntow said the violence in the party would cease if Mr Kyerematen becomes the presidential candidate.

Leading members of the party who were present at the campaign launch included Hilda Addo, Abraham Boakye, popularly known as One Man Supporter, and Nana Gabby Nketia.