NPP Presidential Aspirants: A Candid Observation

“Yebewo ohene no na panin te ase” (ie. the elder was there before the King was born). I say this to categorically debunk the campaign strategies of many a Ghanaian politician whose quest for political power is shrouded in a sense of entitlement. I have heard Kennedy Agyapong espouse this sense of entitlement on Ashh FM and repeated it on another FM station. That a person is entitled to lead a political party for the mere fact that the person has been a member for so many years is tantamount to saying that Nana Akwasi Agyemang is a member of the Oyoko clan hence he should have been the occupant of the Golden Stool not the current occupant. If the above line of thinking is absurd and illogical, then one must equally be put off by what we witnessed in the 2007 NPP primaries and the shameless repetition of the same strategy in 2010 primaries. NPP fell for that illogical theme in 2007; we gave Nana a chance: Alan made sure that Nana got his chancewhen he voluntarily threw in the towel so to speak, and what happened, the Country rejected him.

Yes, we had known Nana from “tete” (credit to 2007 slogan “Nana yenim wo fri tete”). He had toiled and ‘bled’ for the party, so have others, including some “Foot Soldiers” who may have done more. Based on Nana’s so called long service, NPP gave him the chance in 2007. Why are we hearing the same mantra in 2010? I do not buy into the saying that three times is a charm, and I strongly refuse to believe that Nana is the ONLY viable candidate that NPP can offer. One cannot fault P/NDC for going it three times with candidate Mills, for the depth of viable candidates within NDC was anything but superficial. UP tradition has never been known to entertain personality cult so why start now?

When Nana was given his chance in 2007, NPP had the resources and the record (Kuffour’s good works) to run on yet Nana blew it. B L E W. Yes Nana blew it Big Time!! Yes, I am aware that “Nana abre wo parte yi mu” but then wasn’t he given the chance in 2007? I for one do not subscribe to the crap being perpetuated around Nana’s candidacy that he should be rewarded mainly because “yenim Nana from tete” and “Nana abre”. We must realize that people become President not as a long service award of some sort, but rather people become President because of the VISION they have for the development of their country. If only for long service, old age and toiling, then let it be known to all and sundry that I Fiifi Bannerman am walking to Saltpond palace to claim my ‘inheritance’, for I have been a member of the royal skin all my life. Talk about money? I have spent a lot in community projects in the ‘city’. Yes Saltpond is my city.

Wake up NPP!! What would it take to convince one that Nana couldn’t win the ‘important’ one? Obviously Nana did not read “Chasing the Elephant into the Bush”; if he read the book at all it is painfully clear that he never learnt anything from it. Why am I indicting Nana? Because if he did learn anything from the book and for that matter 2007 experience he would have immediately replaced the marketing genius who came up with the campaign slogan “Nana yen ani da woso” The arrogance of it all!

Nana’s entourage and close associates do not help either, for example, people like Mr. Osafo Marfo and Kennedy Agyapong. Mr. Osafo Marfo alienates the NPP base anytime he opens his mouth, while Mr. Ken Agyapong reminds the average Joe Blow why poverty is a disease. What has caring for Baah Wiredu’s (bless his memory) children got to do in this primary? Kennedy Agyapong’s tirade on the radio that he’s been caring for Baah Wiredu’s children since his death was the lowest of the low!! Nana should have called on Agyapong on his comment. I would return every pesewa that this bloke had given towards the upkeep of Baah Wiredu’s children if I were a family member. Kennedy Agyapong must bow his head in shame. Nana’s campaign cannot attract the poor and humble (who incidentally are in the majority) with the likes of Kennedy Agyapong surrounding him.

Please let no one accuse me of harboring any ill feeling towards Nana. I believe he is a fine gentleman. He loves Ghana just as anybody else love Ghana. He must be a good husband and a father just like anybody else. I believe that he could have done better than President Mills if he had not blown his chance. My only beef is that he’s had his chance; hence he should sit out and let the next generation take a crack at it, for Ghana’s presidency is not and must not be a dynasty and a long service award. As said earlier, Nana is not the only viable or intelligent potential leader in the mist of NPP.

I beg of all the delegates to ponder over how and why Nana was chosen to lead NPP in 2007 vis-à-vis his plea in 2010. Tell him politely but firmly that he has since utilized his entitlement by blowing his chance in 2008. There are four other NPP presidential aspirants who have also served the party well in good and bad times. They have also been known from “tete”. Let us give them the chance, for Nana is NOT a winnable candidate.

Fiifi Bannerman, Toronto Canada