By Kwabena Amankwah
The outcome of the recent historic congress of the New Patriotic Party that gave
overwhelming endorsement to Nana Akufo-Addo as the 2012 presidential candidate has
confirmed the resolve of the party to unite behind the common purpose of staging a
successful comeback to the corridors of political power in 2012.
The discerning “kingmakers” of our great party have indeed proved to all that when
it comes to the business of selecting our presidential candidate they cannot be led
on the path of unrighteousness.
The indisputable overwhelming endorsement of the man who is most feared by the
National Democratic Congress has set the tone for effective unity and cohesion that
is a sine qua non for the success of the Victory 2012 Agenda.
Having come out successfully of the congress, chalking a feat that has sent shock
waves down the spines of our political partners in development, we all need to close
our ranks and focus on the bigger battle ahead of us in 2012.
Statements from the top echelons of the party, including the four gallant men who
lost the flagbearership contest to Nana Akufo-Addo, have been indicative of their
determination to help ensure enduring unity and cohesion required to prosecute
effective campaign towards victory in 2012.
All that Apostle expects from them is sincere commitment in carrying out any role
that would be assigned to them as far as the electioneering campaign is concerned.
Just as I have always pointed out, the political future of people like Mr Alan
Kyerematen somewhat depends upon how sincerely they will support Nana Akufo-Addo to
accomplish his ambition of becoming the President of Ghana.
Some people did not understand me when I kept drumming home that Mr Kyerematen’s
ambition would be in jeopardy if he failed to support Nana to achieve his. The
outcome of the recent congress, I am sure, seems to have proved me right even though
it is pretty early to draw that conclusion.
In one of my recent articles, ALAN CAN RETURN NPP TO POWER, I stressed the point
that just as Nana Akufo-Addo campaigned vigorously and in all sincerity for Mr
Kufuor to become the President of Ghana in 2000, Alan should also do the same thing
for Nana.
I have no doubt that Mr Kyerematen is now ready to do just that – yes, that is all
that all genuine NPP members such as my friend Kwabena Agyapong expect from him and
the rest who took part in the flagbearership race.
Ensuring unity at the higher level of the NPP has mostly not been a major problem
because the players at that level have a deeper appreciation of what a contest is
about. The problem often has to do with the players at the grassroots level.
Apostle visited the NPP head office on Monday to find out how the atmosphere would
look like, after the Jake-chaired executive had led the party through a very
successful congress. I was sad to hear some party members around making statements
such as “THEY have now seen how well We beat “, “Now we have shown them where they
belong.”
Oh! Where do they belong? Don’t they belong to the big NPP family? Did we expect
everybody to support one candidate? Certainly no. So, what is the talk about “WE”
and “THEY”?
My people, there is no need for “We” and “They” in the NPP. All that we have now is
a big family that has a large space for all members who are committed to the common
agenda to dislodging the non-performing and inept Mills-led NDC government from
power in 2012.
The unity at the top should be made to trickle down to the grassroots. The unity
agenda at that level should be led by those who may want to see themselves as “the
majority”. They have to extend a warm hand of friendship to those who may also want
to see themselves as “the minority”. Let us create a healthy atmosphere that will
make everybody feel a part of the family because it is the we-feeling that will
elicit sincerity from all.
Let us all put the outcome of the congress behind us and join hands to engineer and
implement the strategies that will secure victory for us in 2012.
A talk about “WE” should hence refer to the NPP while “THEY” should refer to the
NDC.
Kwabena
Amankwah is former TESCON-UCC Secretary and Campaign Correspondent,
Akufo-Addo for President ’08. amaskwabena@yahoo.com 0244-217504
