A group within the biggest opposition New Patriotic Party, supporting the flagbearership bid of former trade Minister Alan Kyeremanten, says its preferred candidate’s archrival, two-time flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo, has expired, politically, and thus, must be ditched by delegates at the polls.
Get Alan Kyeremanten Elected, GAKE, in a letter addressed to delegates of the party, jointly signed by National Coordinator, Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, and Organiser, Gabriel Osei Kuffuor, ahead of the October 18, 2014 congress, said: “The fact of the matter is that goods that cannot sell would not sell even when carried around town with the best sound systems. The people will just dance to the music and ignore the goods, and this is what has happened to the NPP's political commodity.”
He said the “only sensible” thing that the delegates must do “at this crucial time” is to “replace” Nana Akufo-Addo with “the commodity that meets the people's taste and preferences.”
“We believe that Hon. John Alan Kyerematen ((JAK the second) has all the attributes that can match the NDC's candidate, John Mahama, and also meet the demands of the Ghanaian voter. Alan, who is cast in the mould of former president Kufuor, is a symbol of vision, charisma, competence, humility, wisdom, and peace. He is gentle, energetic, competent, and approachable. Alan is the floating voters' choice,” the statement said.
GAKE reminded the delegates their "Kingmaker" status in the party: “We gave Prof. Adu Boahen, who broke the 'culture of silence' only one chance; we gave Kufuor only two chances and he maximised the opportunity straight away; we have equally given Nana Akufo-Addo two chances, but where are we now as a party? Instead of reflecting deeply on this, some people don't even admit that the party lost the elections because of our Candidate. Why do we change party executives and leave this man whose picture was on the ballot paper out? He promised to win power for the NPP, but ended up sending the party into opposition for 8 years.”
It said: “Fellow Kukrudites, let's think about the future of our beloved party. Nobody is a repository of knowledge. A marketed commodity is the one that has been bought by a consumer. Nobody should think that the economy is bad, so it is an automatic victory for the NPP in 2016. The first change has occurred in the NPP's National Executive elections in Tamale, and Mr. Paul Afoko, who was nearly killed at Legon for supporting Alan Cash, is the leader of the NPP now. Let's complete the last change in the party.”
Below is GAKE’s tall list of reasons for which it believes Nana Akufo-Addo has expired and does not deserve a third chance:
Fellow Delegates,
The following is the flag-bearership record of Nana Addo since 2007. Kindly, read and find out for yourself, if he deserves to be given a third-time chance.
Unlike Kufuor, the 2008 & 2012 NPP's Presidential Candidate had an impressive economic and social record as a campaign tool - free maternal care, NHIS, free basic education, NYEP, etc.
He embarked on Listening, Restoration of Hope, and Thank You tours all over the country.
He restructured and re-branded the NPP with new Electoral College and elected national officers to reflect regional, tribal, and gender balance.
He changed his Campaign Manager twice - Arthur Kennedy & Boakye Agyarko in 2008 and 2012 respectively.
He selected his own Communications Director and Deputies across the country - Nana Akomea, Sammy Awuku, etc.
Former President Kufuor, although not fit, campaigned with him in many sensitive areas and provided financial support for him.
He changed the picture on his electoral poster from a seeming 'frowning face' in suit to a smiling face in African wear.
Professor Atta Mills ( then a sitting president) kicked the bucket just six (6) months to the presidential election.
His main opponent, John Mahama used only three (3) months to campaign as the NDC's presidential candidate.
He was marketed from 2007 till the day of the general elections, hence the accolade; "Y3nim wo firi tete" to wit; we have known him for long.
He had one of the best, if not the best Campaign Message - Free SHS now, in both Election 2008 and 2012 as against NDC's "Edey bee k3k 3".
He chose one of the best running-mates ever - a finest economist, Muslim, and northerner, Dr. Bawumia on two occasions.
The NDC, our political opponent, was divided into factions - Obed's DFP, and Nana Konadu's NDP.
Former President J.J. Rawlings did not campaign for his main opponent, John Mahama.
Former President Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu became his friends and Konadu even became his defender along the line.
Dr. Sekou Nkrumah, Maame Dokono, Nana Ampadu, Owuraku Amofa, Frances Essiam - all former NDC Stalwarts became his friends and joined the campaign train.
Daddy Lumba, Pastor Ampong, Philapa Baafi, Christiana Love, etc. composed emotional songs for him - Nana is the winner, We are moving forward, Awurade Kae Nana, etc.
He began to sit in public transport (trotro), drank pure water, Kenkey & Ampese in public, and visited people in their kitchens just to look ordinarily.
He got his running-mate, Dr. Bawumia to pound fufu in public whilst his wife swept the Nima market.
He performed creditably in all the IEA presidential debates.
He declared "All-die-be-die" in Ghana to energise party faithful and protect the ballots boxes, yet he said his votes had been stolen.
Prayers upon prayers, fasting upon fasting were all done by Christians, Muslims, Traditional priests to give the battle to The Lord and indeed, the battle was given to The Lord.
Two million dollars ($2m) worth of mobile phones were given to all NPP Polling Agents to text electoral results to the party headquarters.
Over 11,000 pink sheets were sent to the Supreme Court as evidence of electoral fraud, but none of them showed that some of his votes were taken and added unto his opponent's as we were initially made to believe.
He ate 'kpokpoi' in Accra and was cleansed by Nungua Wolomi for spiritual strength.
A gargantuan Judgment Debt song - Woyome, Woyome was composed by NPP members to create public awareness that the NDC government was corrupt.
The media, led by Ash FM and Oman FM's Owusu Bempah, aka Aboa Papu explained issues, defended against rumours, and launched verbal attacks on the NDC.
After the 2007 NPP Presidential Primaries, this was a statement from him; "Alan, take your time; you would be president after me". His term ends in 2016.
He went to Israel to offer prayers, but in spite of touching the Wailing Wall, his votes kept depreciating from 49.13% to 47.74%.
He distributed t-shirts, mounted big billboards, and organised beach rallies. NPP members treated him like a president anytime he returned from abroad.
Apart from the free SHS policy, he made special promises such as accommodation for the 'Kayaye' - head potters, expansion and transformation of the economy, and improving the standard of living of Ghanaians.
The last, but not least, he needed only 23,000 popular votes to win Election 2008, but it turned round to be a deficit of 40,000 votes and now 323,663 votes with a struggling two (2) regions. How could he overturn this vote deficit now that Mahama would be spending four (4) years as an incumbent president?
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