Prez Aspirants Pay C10m to speak

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is still raking more cash into its kitty, weeks after it opened nominations for members who aspire to be its flagbearer for the 2008 general elections.

Daily Guide was reliably informed that the party was making an additional ?190 million (GH?19,000) from its 19 presidential aspirants, each of whom was taxed to pay ?10m (GH?1,000) before delivering their speech at the just-ended Eastern Regional rally at Asamankese.

However, at the time of going to press yesterday, it was not clear if the ?contributions? of all aspirants had been received. The ruling NPP is expected to make billions of cedis from its aspirants before the next national delegates congress of the party, slated for December 22, 2007.

Each aspirant is expected to pay ?5m (GH?500) before picking a form and ?250m (GH?25,000) upon completion of the filing process.

Yesterday?s rally, organized by the region to mark the 15th anniversary of the party, attracted the cr?me de la cr?me of the party, including President John Agyekum Kufuor. It was described as a carnival by all standards, and the President?s arrival was greeted with a tumultuous welcome despite a heavy downpour which occurred just five minutes later.

In a keynote address, President Kufuor, who defied the torrential rains to deliver his speech, stressed the need for unity in the party and advised aspirants to take note of that fact during their campaign.

According to him, delegates to the impending congress should go beyond looking at the physique and skin colour of aspirants and rather pick a winning candidate for the 2008 race. He asked the party?s teeming supporters to remain firm, noting that the destiny of the nation should never be left in the hands of nation-wreckers.

President Kufuor said recent discovery of oil in parts of the country was real, adding that God gave it to the NPP to be presented to Ghanaians. When they took their turns to speak, all the aspirants pledged to support whoever carries the day at the congress.

Among those who spoke were Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Prof. Mike Oquaye, Dan Botwe, Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko, Arthur Kennedy, Alan Kyerematen, Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Kwabena Agyepong, Papa Owusu Ankomah, Felix Owusu Adjapong, Dr. Addo Kufuor, Nkrabeah Effa-Darteh, Kofi Konadu Apraku, Hackman Owusu Agyeman and Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey.

Conspicuously missing were the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and John Kwame Kodua, a Kumasi-based businessman.

Thousands of party supporters and sympathizers who thronged the Asamankese Methodist School Park to listen to the various aspirants were hugely disappointed because of the torrential rains, which temporarily brought the programme to a standstill. The rally was expected to be one of the grandest party activities in the country in recent times, as support groups of various aspirants took the town by storm several hours before the programme was billed to start.

As the aspirants tried to make their presence felt, in one way or the other, observers say if street support would be the yardstick to pick a candidate on December 22, then Alan Kyerematen and Nana Akufo Addo may be heading for a photo-finish.

Hackman Owusu Agyeman, who had the largest portrait displayed in the heart of the town, also made a very strong showing, with public address systems strategically positioned at various locations to extol his virtues.

Papa Owusu Ankomah, Dan Botwe, Osafo Maafo, Boakye Agyarko all made their presence felt. Interestingly, even those who could not make it to the rally grounds had their supporters planted there.

While some of them arrived at the grounds in open cars, others walked and danced to the dais amidst heavy drumming and dancing. Also present were ministers of state and national, regional and constituency executives of the party.