Leave Nana Addo alone -Nyaho-Tamakloe

As the lobbying for who gets to partner the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo heats up, many more of the party’s faithful are not relenting in pushing for their favourite personalities to become running mate. Even though at this point it is evidently clear that the 2008 running mate Mahamadu Bawumia is still the favourite of the people, some party big wigs who are also pushing for their preferred candidates, have taken the fight too serious, putting enormous pressure on Nana Addo to accede to their demands. Names such as Harunna Alhassan, the Managing Director of Metropolitan Television (Metro TV), Ambrose Dery, the Deputy Minority Leader in parliament and Alhaji MND Jawula, have been pushed forward to the flagbearer, giving him a tough time in deciding who partners him in the 2012 elections.

While most party persons have said the intense lobbying would strengthen the internal democracy of the NPP, others have called for an end to the seemingly disturbing trend, saying it has the potential of derailing the gains they’ve made so far.

Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, former ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro and a leading member of the party has said it is important that the party’s structures are respected while pushing for such demands, adding that the decision as to who partners Nana Addo, solely rests with him and the Council of elders of the party.

“Nana Addo will get to choose whoever he wants to partner him in consultation with the party’s Council of elders. All these machinations won’t matter so far as I am concerned. This is an experienced politician of 30 years plus, who knows what he wants and knows the kind of material he looks out for in a running mate. “It is important we give him that room to operate and allow him to choose the most suitable candidate that would ensure that we make the necessary inroads come the 2012 elections. At this point in our party’s life where we are enjoying enormous goodwill and support from the masses, the least we want to do is to rock the boat with all these unnecessary distractions. Nana Adoo must be allowed to decide,” he said.

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe said he is optimistic that the flagbearer in consultation with the party’s Council of elders will choose a running mate who would best pair him, “for the 2012 battle”.

“All indications show that we are close to victory but then it is important we make the right decisions. I know in the wise council of the elders, they will choose a running mate that best suits our case”.

The NPP goes into the polls in 2012 against the ruling NDC, in what promises to be a fierce and interesting battle for the presidency. Whilst the ruling government has a fair idea of who its running mate candidate is, the NPP is yet to decide.

Party sources have however said that baring any last minute contingency; Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo is likely to announce a running mate pretty soon.