Alhaji Aliu Mahama was the nearest to the Presidency yet the delegates chose the person whose time it was. If you are from the North in the NPP, your time will never come. This is why Dr Bawumia will never lead the NPP.
It is definitely "Alans time". Some people believe President Kuffour did not support his Vice, Alhaji Aliu Mahama because he is from the North and that is why Aliu Mahama never became a Presidential Candidate.
It is a known fact that the NPP is a party that strongly upholds internal democracy. The issue of who becomes the next Presidential Candidate will be opened to different and divergent views. Notwithstanding this fact, it will serve the party right if it develop a common opinion, platform and consensus on this matter. Names of people such as Alan Kyeramanten, Dan Botwe, Isaac Osei, Mathew Opoku Prempeh (Napo) and others are being speculated as eyeing the Presidential slot. They may all be qualified but the party need to critically assess the chances and marketability of each an every one of them to arrive at the best. But I have already heard arguments that the NPP should not limit the issue of who leads the party to geographical and ethnic considerations but choose a leader who can appeal to all Ghanaians.
The history of the NPP, the unofficial internal arrangements and the internal power play does not favour Bawumia. It is noteworthy that prior to his selection as running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo in 2008, there were dissenting opinions from some leading members of NPP including Kennedy Agyepong, who threatened he would not campaign for the party if Bawumia was selected. Even after an explanation that Akufo Addo took into consideration competence, compatibility, acceptability, and marketability of the candidate before making his declaration some were still not happy.
Many NPP members did not see Bawumia as a politician and believe Akufo-Addo only foisted him on them. The "hawks" in NPP saw Bawumia as an intruder and one who is not originally NPP. Some party insiders even disclosed Bawumia was not a card bearing member of the NPP as a time he was selected in 2008.
More over it seems there are two main factions in NPP and leadership swings between these two faction. All around the world, most political parties typically have at least two main factions within them. The pendulum will often swing from one side of the party to the other over the course of time. For instance the Democrat and Republican parties of the US have their Liberal and Moderate wings. Anytime one side wins control over the party, the other faction will often feel alienated but usually soldier along until its time comes. Many think it is the turn of the Kufour/AIan faction to take over the NPP again.
Looking for a flagbearer outside Akan would have been ideal for NPP but I sincerely believe it would not happen. Some people have said the idea of strategising on the basis of ethnicity is quite repulsive and that the NPP must take measures not to frame Ghanaian politics on ethnic lines. In Ghana, ethnicity matters as the 2008 and 2012 elections showed. The NPP would have to present an ethnically diversified face to be able to win future elections.
Already many in NPP are saying; "It is now the turn of Alan Kyeramanten". The coming days will be interesting.
By Mahama Haruna.
The writer is a trained Journalist and a former NPP Secretary for Bole-Bamboi. He was also a Secretary of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUG).
