Blame Nana Addo for NPP's Defeats - GAKE

The new pressure group, Get Alan Kyerematen Elected (GAKE) expresses grave concern on the inability of Nana Akufo-Addo to take responsibility of the abysmal electoral performances of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in recent times. To us, it is high time Nana Addo understood the relevance of the adage; "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown". This is because, it was not for nothing that heads of state, chief executives of institutions, chiefs, and school prefects are elected or appointed to coordinate the activities of states, companies, traditional areas, and students. Such leaders are appointed to see to the progress of the task assigned them. GAKE is thus of the view that, the selection of a Flagbearer of a political party in a democratic country like ours, is to win political power, but not to give false hope to supporters that every election had been 'won' by the NPP, but 'rigged' for the opponent.

It is in this sense that GAKE is emotionally troubled by Nana Addo's electoral defeats, in spite of the great opportunities that were at his disposal. This is a man whom many Kukrudites think is popular, competent, incorruptible, and experienced, yet continues to keep the NPP in opposition. Today, majority of Ghanaians are suffering under the Mahama-led NDC government, because our preferred candidate, Nana Addo has not been able to secure victory for the NPP as he promised in his "Victory 2008" and "Victory 2012" slogans. Surprisingly, when a bonafide NPP member asks why Nana Addo had failed to win power against two different candidates within a spate of five years, it turns out to be a blame game galore. For example, if it was not Dr. Afari Gyan who 'rigged' the elections for Mahama, then it is Mahama who influenced the electorate with cars, laptops, and money. On the other hand, if it was not Kufuor and Alan who did not lend support to Nana Addo, then the blame is put squarely on the doorsteps of NPP's Polling Agents.

GAKE expresses shock that, in all these allegations, the very man who led the NPP into those two painful electoral defeats is walking freely and being adored like an "Opposition President". Nana Addo arrives at the airport and party members troop there to give him a red-carpet welcome; you give him constructive criticism and his supporters tag you as Alan Boy or NDC member; you kick against his third time candidature of the party in Election 2016, and people threaten to beat or kill you. Regrettably, a masses' party like the NPP is now turning into Nana Popular Party. Why? Is Akufo-Addo the only NPP member to turn Ghana into a "Golden Country"?

For those of us in GAKE, refusing to level blame against Nana Addo for the NPP's electoral defeats is tantamount to blaming all Ghanaians for the payment of judgement debts or the mismanagement of the country. If not so, why do NPP members constantly single out president John Mahama for the current economic hardship? Why don't we blame the NPP or Ghanaians for the frequent power outages?

GAKE recalls that, just after four (4) months into office as president, Prof. Mills had the shock of his life when our own Nana Akufo-Addo referred to him as "Professor-Do-Little". The question is, why did Akufo-Addo describe a sitting president "Do-Little", but not all Ghanaians as "Do-Little"? Probably Nana Addo saw Prof. Mills as the leader of the country and urged him to take responsibility of all Ghana's economic challenges at the time?

GAKE believes that, going by the same logic, Nana Akufo-Addo should be upfront by admitting that he has led the NPP from a ruling party into opposition party and that he must also take responsibility for that. GAKE again wants to find out why Nana Addo is absolving himself from blame, when NPP's four (4) regions have become a struggling two (2)? The group also wants to find out from Nana Addo why his votes have been depreciating from 49.13% in 2008 to 47.74% in 2012?

GAKE further wants Nana Addo to admit that he erred by his infamous; "All die be die" and "Y3n Akanfo" statements, and that a simple admission of his mistake and apology could have helped his cause. Besides, GAKE wants to know why Nana Addo had failed to admit that, he actually lacks the political competence to maximize the political expertise of his fellow party members he believed could have assisted him to win the presidency. And finally, GAKE wants to find out why Nana Addo had failed to condemn certain provocative statements by his henchmen such as Sir John and Mustapha Hamid.

Thus, from the above, GAKE believes that Election 2016 would be a forgone conclusion for John Mahama, should Nana Addo lead the NPP again. How could a 72-year old Nana Addo overturn 323,663 votes of 57-year old John Mahama, who doubles as an incumbent president? "Mpanin se, 3bisi woso a, anka y3hy33 wo mma", to wit, if Nana Addo had something positive for the NPP, he could have done so in both 2008 and 2012 general elections. It is thus imperative for the NPP delegates to replace Nana Addo with Alan Kyerematen in the upcoming NPP Congress. It is the belief of GAKE that, Alan, who is the last John to complete the John hierarchy in the 4th Republic - John Rawlings, John Kufuor, John Mills, and John Mahama, has all the qualities that Ghanaian voters are looking for - charisma, competence, humility, gentility, appeal, calmness, and peace. GAKE therefore appeals to all NPP delegates to complete the last change after the Tamale conference by presenting Alan-Bawumia ticket in Election 2016. Think Alan! Think Victory!!

GAKE, one more change for power!

Signed:

Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang