"Cashman" Leaves Akufo Addo Dazed

In a cruel punishing demonstration of how executive influence is weighing in on the side of Mr. Alan Cash, Mr. Raymond Okudzeto, the financial backbone of the North and South Tongu constituency, and founding member of the New Patriotic Party has had his delegates selection reversed.

North Tongu constituency chairman Mr. Prosper Agor and his secretary took the trouble of going to the Ridge residence of the venerable warrior of the NPP, and escorted him to Danquah Circle, in Accra, for his passport picture to be taken to complete the process for his delegates card.

They came back days later and with a lumps in their throats told Raymond that, unfortunately they had been asked to drop him. The name of the Regional Minister came to his lips, for who else will have the temerity to make such an order.

Mr. Okudzeto makes no bones about his support for Nana Akufo Addo and his wife Mrs. Lois Okudzeto, and actually attended the Abuakwa legislator's fund-raising and donated handsomely to his war chest. Akufo Addo has lost one vote, which is equal to the entire North American delegates, which the Statesman newspaper believes will go the former Minister's way.

From Volta to the Northern parts, down to the Central, and Western regions where he has a scant following, the Nana Akufo Addo campaign is haemorrhaging heavily. Poor tactics, aided by a surfeit of fatal miscalculations, have combined to take the shine off his last-minute push for the NPP top prize - presidential candidate of the NPP, which he hopes, would make him President.

MFANTSEMAN WEST

In Mfantseman West, Konongo-born Stephen Asamoah Boateng, who is claiming to be a Fante from Kormantse, has deployed all the known tactics of the dirty book to claim a delegate's selection for himself, as the Member of Parliament for the area.

The constituency was dominated by supporters of Nana Addo, by virtue of Lawyer Kweku Paintsil of Accra's bid for the seat in the 2008 primaries. Paintsil, from Mankessim, undertook his pupilage at the Law Chambers of Nana Addo, and it is believed by supporters of the 134-member strong polling station constituency that he is partial to Nana Addo.

Incredibly, the constituency organiser Mr. Arhin, who is suspected to be the leader of the pro-Akufo Addo section of the constituency, did not make the cut for the delegates list.

After the delegates conference last fortnight, he was voted out. Strangely Mr. Duker, the 1st Vice Chairman, and Special Assistant to Asamoah Boateng, Minister of Tourism, was able to make the list. Mr. Duker was employed at the Institute of Local Government and remains there even as the former Local Government Minister fawns to be returned to his Ministry.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng, who is known to be a friend of aspirant Mr. Kweku Botwe with whom he and Arthur Kennedy shared bread at La Cote d'Ivoire as exiles from Rawlings military regime, cart-wheeled from Dan's camp, deserted his wife and kids in Croydon, England and moved to the Alan camp from where his association with the Dan camp, is believed to have cost him his job.

With Ms. Esi Danquah, the constituency women organiser, an Alan convert and at least, six others, Mfantseman West is going Alan's way. Over in Gomoa West, the chairman of the constituency, Mr. Kofi Frimpong is the Alan representative for the Central Region.

Dr.Osei, Mmawerehene and 'Paatak', the Krofuom constituency chairman in the Ashanti Region and friend of Mr. Peter Mac Manu, have obliterated all traces of Akufo Addo. Only Boakye Agyarko remains the bulwark, and stands between him and his 'One Touch victory'.

The Mmawerehene, who is the linguist for the Asantehene, pointedly told Kofi Coomson recently, that they were going to win by at least 60 percent of the delegates. Another one of Alan's team mates, intimated that only Jake and Dan Botwe will be included in their Government.

'Kofi Coomson will have to come through me to see Alan if he is your friend, which on the present showing, he is showing that he isn't,' observed an agitated Osei. The Chronicle publisher confirmed this encounter to The Chronicle.

With a brand new woman at his side, Hon Asamoah Boateng has now joined the Alan charge, overcome with a morbid fear of job insecurity. His infamous tangle with Nana Addo in Parliament, is a testimony of this feeling of insecurity. It is believed that Mfantseman West will go to Alan, but Arhin believes 'when a deaf man dreams it is in his head'.

NANA ADDO MAN MAHMOUD DELISTED

Over in the North, the incredible story of Mahmoud has emerged. The Regional Organiser for Upper East had been partial to the Nana Addo cause. The Alan Pinzer Movement, led by Messrs Paul Afoko and Richard Anane, was too strong for him. He did not even make the cut for the delegates list. He raced to Pusiga constituency to try and make it to the constituency list of delegates, but there too, he failed.

Mahmoud was the organiser for the late Madam Hawa Yakubu. When the Iron Lady was dithering about her candidacy, he moved quickly to the Nana Addo camp, but quickly lost credibility among the supporters, who suspected him of chopping without them.

In last Monday's edition of the Statesman, Gabby Otchere Darko wrote that Paul Afoko was fighting for a delegates place in the Bongo constituency. He pointedly said in Monday publication, that Afoko's efforts did not work out. That was untrue, even though Paul chose not to respond, or never read the paper.

Superior intelligence is that Mr. Paul Afoko made the delegates list in Sandema, having made the cut in the Builsa North constituency, where Mrs. Agnes Chigabatia rules the roost. At least five of the delegates would vote for Alan and Boakye Agyarko is in to share the pickings. Zero for Nana Addo. Paul Afoko has made sure of that.

In the Western Region, Nana Addo is completely out, in a field dominated by Osafo Maafo-mania and Boakye Agyarko persuasive insight.

In a piece written by Zam Samin, which is yet to be published, majority of the grassroot supporters of the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan constituency executives, say they would vote for Mr. Agyarko.

Boakye's only 'but', is that he is not known to the people of Ghana, a piece of propaganda first mooted by Hon. Apraku and then Nana Addo. But there is universal acknowledgement of his deep insights and overwhelming grasp of the minutiae of the economy and other relevant issues.

In the Takoradi constituency, the chairman, Mumuni, a Moslem-Ahanta who used to be a fierce Nana Addo loyalist has now shifted to the side of his Muslim brother, Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

In last week's delegates election, Mumuni was lucky to make it as a delegate, but after a fierce fight the delegates finally settled and approved the Right Honourable Begyina Sakyi Hughes and his wife the former Regional Treasurer, who are both voters from the Beach Road polling station, as delegates.

Since both the couple are looking forward to the prospect of Alhaji Aliu Mahama, they are both going to be voting for Aliu. The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Hughes is looking forward to partnering Aliu in the ultimate contest.

In the constituency ruled by Mrs. Hon Gladys Asmah, the representative of the area, backed the trend. As a prominent Christian, she is partial to Osafo Maafo, with whom she shares an excellent camaraderie, and quite naturally, is expected to be in his corner. Mumuni in 2001, was a strong supporter of Nana Addo. He was not in his corner this time, as the last time Nana Addo was there, a little over a month ago, Nadmo's Messrs Kofi Nyankopah and 'Yesterday' an electronic dealer, graced the top of the table at the Ghapoha Club House.

Mr. Nyankopa is now a parliamentary aspirant for Amenfi Central, where he scored a spectacular victory against the wiles of Nana Owusu Ankomah. In that constituency there is no sign of support for Nana Akufo Addo. Apart from Gladys Asmah, who may be pro-Osafo Maafo, the rest of the delegates may be rooting for Boakye Agyarko. Agyarko is this morning billed to address nine constituency executives at the Lagoon Side Hotel, Sekondi.

But in Essikado Ketan, Hon Joe Ghartey, who is locked in a feud with his old pal presidential aspirant Hon. Papa Owusu Ankomah, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General will enusure that Alan gets the maximum delegates possible.

The constituency secretary for Joe Ghartey is one Mr. Obeng, and he doubles as the representative for the Alan campaign in the Western Region. Though Joe Ghartey is an alumnus of Nana Addo's chambers, he is definitely against Nana Addo's bid, and is fully clothed in the Alan mould. Over in Effia-Kwesimintsim, Hon Joe Baidoo-Ansah got elected as a delegate in absentia, amidst strong protests, implying a vote for Alan whose Ministry the honourable MP now has charge of, assuring a lone vote for Alan.

The remaining delegates are shared between Osafo Maafo and Boakye Agyarko.

GREATER ACCRA

The story of Accra is a toss up. The role of Sammy Crabbe remains uncertain, as he has managed to rein bounty-hunting chairmen to cut a deal with any aspirant who manages to assure his chairmen.

First it was Vice President Aliu, who tried to lay out something, but did not quite make it.

From Ayawaso West Wuogon, Hon Frema Opare managed to get selected as a candidate with her aide de camp, Mr. Walker attempting to get in as a delegate, an issue that sparked a violent confrontation between him and constituency chairman Wadie.

The attempt by the pro-Alan MP, Mrs Opare to smother former MP and former NADMO boss Isaac Amoo misfired badly as the polling station chairmen led by party godfather, Mr. Boakye led to a rout of the delegates selection. In the end Abelenkpe Mr. Acolatse of Global Summer Hotel, Abelenkpe, an Akufo Addo loyalist weighed in to counter the pro-Alan forces in Ayawaso.

The rest of the delegates remain uncommitted. With the President's selection as a delegate, a deep grunt of disapproval emanated from the floor.

At Ablekuma Central, Hon Theresa Tagoe, mounted a last ditch attempt to get selection for her cousin, Nana Addo and failed. She could not manage to get a slot in her last hurrah, before announcing a closure of a chapter of controversy as an MP.

AHANTA WEST

In a rare display of decency and honour, Hon Samuel Jonfiah, the MP for the area, turned the delegate selection over to his women's organiser. He confirmed that to The Chronicle yesterday and said it was for the sacrifices she and others made for him to get to where he is that made him pass the opportunity to his women's organiser to go to Accra.

Mr. Kwesi Tawiah, the constituency organiser is partial to Osafo Maafo but the rest of his delegates are now up for grabs, and are believed to be fertile grounds for all comers.

The only person who is openly Nana Addo, Mr. Kwesi Biney, failed to make the cut of DCEs through his own insolence and disrespect for the chiefs of the area and his popular MP.

The Alan gravy train has been blocked by the same bogey that haunted Mr. Stephen Ntim, who is now one of the campaign soldiers for Alan.

EASTERN REGION

In the Eastern Region, where Nana Addo is in the race with as many as six other aspirants from the area, the Abuakwa legislator has managed to get a delegates slot from his constituency but failed to get more than five delegates, with the other delegates who have been fighting him for some time now, going the other way. The delegates are spread among the six other candidates with Osafo Maafo and Boakye Agyarko sharing the rest.

In New Juaben South, where Hon. Hackman is the dominant spirit in the area, Alan has managed to cut a swathe in the constituency, and has carried off a clutch of delegates to his side. The young MP Adu leads the Abuakwa North constituency, and he is historically opposed to Nana Addo. He has made sure that Nana Addo is totally out of the constituency and he has all, but taken his constituency to the Oseadeyie Osafo Maafo.

In Manya Krobo, the heated delegates conference last fortnight ended with Demane, the 76 year old Akufo Addo supporter and women's organiser, harvesting a slot each with the presiding member of the assembly Mr. Emmanuel Agyarko, who is a parliamentary aspirant for the NPP, and brother of Boakye Agyarko, presidential aspirant. Curiously, Emmanuel Agyarko is in the corner of Osafo Maafo.

But in the heat of battle, they fell of the keen negotiating skills of Torino (Boakye Agyarko) and called for his intervention.

They even offered him a slot, but he turned it over to the constituents, stressing on the need to stay above the fray. The rest are known to be Boakye Agyarko's delegates. Nobody eats fufu and leaves the bones for his brother, is how an insider rationalised Agyarko's domination of the Manya Krobo constituency in an old Krobo proverb.

Going to the home stretch, it appears that Nana Addo has been dazed by Alan with a heavy helping hand from the executive. Both Mr. Boakye Agyarko and Osafo-Maafo now remain the aspirants with the capacity to hold off the Alan advance, which is certain to rock the party.