Polling Station Executives call for his selection as running mate (by Richard Addo)
Mr. Alan Kyeremateng, runner-up in last year’s presidential primary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) last week commenced a national thanksgiving tour with visit to three towns in the Volta Region last week with a call on party officials to unite and work hard for a third consecutive victory for the NPP in the forthcoming general elections. His tour took him to Sogakope, Ho and Hohoe where he expressed his gratitude to delegates, party executives as well as polling station chairmen for their support during the last congress.
On all three visits occasions, constituency, as well as polling station executives in the region made unanimous appeals to Nana Akuffo Addo, the NPP flagbearer to consider making Alan Kyerematen his running mate for the 2008 elections since this would boost in no small measure the party’s chances of securing total victory in the 2008 presidential elections in view of his charisma, popularity and vote-winning qualities.
Mr. Kyerematen, popularly known as Alan Cash, commenced the tour with two whistle-stop visits to Sogakope and Ho on Wednesday where he met all polling station chairmen, constituency executives and delegates from Ave-Avenor, South Tongu, Central Tongu, Ketu South, Ketu North, Anlo, Keta, Ho East, Ho West, Ho Central, Ho West, South Dayi and North Tongu. He rounded up the tour with another visit to Hohoe on Friday where he met similar officials from North Dayi, Hohoe South, Hohoe North, Biakoye, Buem, Akan, Nkwanta North, Nkwanta South, Krachi West and Krachi East.
On each occasion, Alan Cash disclosed that his mission was to come down personally to thank them for their co-operation and spiritual guidance over the past couple of years. He told them that he would have come much earlier had it not been for the fact that he and the other presidential aspirants had to accompany Nana Akuffo Addo on a national thanksgiving tour, which was soon followed by the CAN 2008 event.
“I am here to say a very big ‘Thank You’ for your support and spiritual guidance during the last delegate’s congress. Over the last two and half years or so, I have been here several times to solicit your votes and spiritual guidance in the flagbearership of our great party”, he said. “During those visits, I also made it emphatically clear that “it is God who crowns leaders. God has spoken and Nana Addo has been chosen. Now is the time for all of us to forget about the past and rally solidly behind him”, he added.
He told the party executives that in the history of the Busia-Danquah tradition, there has never been a time that there were as many as seventeen presidential aspirants contesting presidential primaries. “I am therefore particularly thankful to God that out of seventeen prominent members of the great party, each of whom was capable of winning the primary, I came second”, he said. “I would forever be grateful to God for”, he added.
On his concession of defeat, he told party executives that even though he could have gone in for a second round of voting, he was directed by God to concede defeat in the interest of preserving party unity which at that time had degenerated to its lowest ebb. “With the guidance of God, I had to sacrifice my own interest for the interest the party and country, he said.
He reminded party executives that contrary to the belief of many party members, the 2008 elections are not going to be easy at all. “Since the return of multiparty democracy to Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has won two elections in 1992 and 1996 whilst the NPP also won two in 1999 and 2004. The 2008 elections therefore, is going to be a ‘champion of champions” event and as such a very difficult one”, he emphasized. He therefore urged them to put in their best campaigning efforts to retain the party in power.
He tasked them that as party foot soldiers their duty is not going to be easy as that of their colleagues in opposition. “The task of an opposition party in preparing towards an election is very simple. All they have to do is to condemn the ruling government and make mouth-watering promises. For the government in power, however, the task is a difficult one because it has to convince the electorate of its record of achievements”, he stated.
He assured them that the third term of the NPP would be the time for them to reap the fruits of their labour. “Do you want to hand over power to the opposition now that the time has come for you to enjoy the fruits of your labours over the years? he asked. “Good times are ahead”, he assured them.
He entreated them to reflect soberly on the numerous achievements of the NPP government in terms of the roads, public transportation, socio-economic infrastructure, telecommunications, the National Health Insurance Scheme, the National Youth Employment Programme, the school-feeding programme, capitation grant, the fiscal economy, just to mention a few and tell Ghanaians of the NPP government’s record. He urged them to enter into every single home and tell the good story about the NPP not only to the party’s supporters but to supporters of the NDC and floating voters as well.
He also requested them to remain united since disunity would spell the party’s doom. “Now the Congress is over, it does not matter whether you supported me or candidate A or B. Nana Addo has emerged winner so we all need to close our ranks and rally solidly behind him. “ We now need to get down, look forward and work hard. If we stay together and focused victory is foregone”’ he emphasized.
Mr. Kyerematen also cautioned against victimization of some party members because they probably supported other candidates during the presidential primary since that will only weaken the position of the party.
He assured polling station officials that he is very much aware of how vital their work is vital to winning elections. He would therefore network with the national executives to ensure that they are all well-resourced for the onerous task ahead.
Mr. Mark Boye, Tongu Central constituency chairman, in his closing remarks stated that out of the seventeen aspirants who came down to seek their support before the congress, only Mr. Kyerematen thought it fit to come back to say ‘Thank You”, even though he was not the eventual winner and described the gesture as very humane.
Various polling station and constituency executives called upon Nana Akuffo Addo to consider making Alan Cash his running mate. This they said was in view of Alan Cash’s overwhelming popularity and ability to attract votes, a quality that cuts across party lines.
They also assured Mr. Kyerematen that they would carry the NPP story to every home in the Volta Region.
