According to Prof. K.A. Busia; "The true test of democracy is not even the right of a minority to disagree – it is the right of a lone dissenter to disagree with the group and yet feel safe and welcomed". As members of Get Alan Kyerematen Elected (GAKE), we feel so proud to have been actively involved in the recently-held NPP primaries. Even though our objective of making Alan Kyerematen the flag-bearer of the NPP for Election 2016 did not materialize, we believe the election of Nana Akufo-Addo still fulfills our dream of getting the NPP into the Flagstaff House in 2016.
GAKE therefore joins the numerous groups and personalities, including Alan Kyerematen and Addai Nimoh, to congratulate Nana Akufo-Addo on his victory as the leader of the NPP. Per the election results, majority of NPP delegates still have the strongest conviction that Nana Addo is the best bet for the NPP in Election 2016. GAKE thus has no option than to agree with them and work towards victory. We therefore take this opportunity to pledge our unflinching support to Nana Addo and promise to play any role in his quest to lead the NPP into victory in 2016.
Admittedly, many disagreements, accusations, and counter-accusations did characterize the Campaign towards the Congress. We believe those things happened to prove to all and sundry that we were not involved in Super human contest, but rather one that involved fallible beings. We are grateful to Almighty God that the end truly justified that the NPP is a peaceful democratic political party ready to win power.
In this sense, GAKE advises all members who had any reservation for the Congress to take heart and see it as a friendly football match between teams from the same town. In spite of the referee's call for fair play, players of the opposing teams would out-do each other by way of delaying, tackling, kicking, sliding, pushing, heading, elbowing, etc with the view to winning the match. However, as soon as the game is over, players of the losing team shake hands with the winners and congratulate them in the spirit of good sportsmanship. GAKE recognises the relevance of this virtue, and wants to infuse it in our body politic.
GAKE would therefore like to render an unqualified apology to all victims of the group's publications, actions, utterances of its members in the course of its recent political activities. Our sincerest apology goes to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who was mostly at the receiving end because of his lead role in the contest. To err, they say, is human; and to forgive is divine. We believe that Nana Akufo-Addo would have the same forgiving heart that made him visit the Rawlinges prior to the 2012 elections. No politician has control over such political 'occupational hazards' as allegations, destructive criticisms, insults, lies, propaganda, violence etc which are associated with partisan politics.
In moving forward, GAKE is taking a new direction by forming a new pressure group to be launched in December this year. The group would be called FV '16, that is, Floating Voters for NPP in 2016, with the motto; "The Floaters - We're Floating for NPP". FV '16 would target all floating voters and members of other opposing parties to vote for the NPP in 2016. The group will also educate Ghanaian voters on the proper way to vote for the NPP's Presidential Candidate in order to minimize the number of rejected ballots in national elections.
We therefore call on Ghanaians who recently turned 18 years and those with no political affiliation to register with us as we intend to embark on nationwide tour. We further urge every single member of the NPP to contribute his/her quota towards the party's cause. We cannot disappoint Ghanaians for the third time, because the NPP's victory in 2016 would be a major step to taking millions of Ghanaians out of the social, economic, and political bondage we find ourselves today.
Finally, we wish Nana Addo well and pray for long life and wisdom for him, and to Alan Kyerematen and Addai Nimoh, we say thank you for adding political flavour to the contest and better luck next time.
God bless Ghana! God bless the NPP!!
...Signed...
Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang - 0202471070/0547851100
Kamir Mohammed - Media Relations
Anita Opoku
On 2014 ?-A 2, at 08:09, Katakyie
I Haven't Switched to any Camp - Katakyie
My attention has been drawn to many newspaper publications that, I, Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, the National Coordinator of Get Alan Kyerematen Elected (GAKE) have abandoned the pressure group midstream and have consequently thrown my support to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with regard to the upcoming NPP primaries. These newspaper publications, especially the one in the Daily Guide, have been followed by many radio interrogations and phone calls by friends with the view to establishing the veracity of the rumour.
I would like to take this opportunity to state categorically that, I have not moved to any camp. I assure the public in general and my group members in particular that, I am still canvassing for votes for Hon. Alan Kyerematen. I cannot leave Alan and join any other camp at this crucial time. I still believe that Alan is the right candidate to take the NPP into the Flagstaff House. It will be politically suicidal for me to dump Alan Kyerematen for any other candidate at a time that my services are utmost needed by the noble man.
I therefore see those publications and rumours as an attempt to tarnish my hard-won reputation, and to make my loyalty to Alan as well as my integrity doubtful. For the information of my detractors, I, Katakyie, do not follow people for following sake as being seen in the fake endorsements currently going in the NPP's flag-bearership race. As a principled person, I do follow Candidates who extremely demonstrate their ability and capacity to win political power for my beloved party. The fact that I have decided to use a new political approach in winning votes for Alan does not mean I have joined another camp.
In Election 2012, I was among the few die-hards who championed the cause of Nana Akufo-Addo. I felt that he was the right man for Ghana at the time, but unfortunately, majority of Ghanaians did not see him as such. They voted against him for the third consecutive time (including run-off). Even though, I can see Nana Addo's desire to turn the economy of Ghana around, it is regrettable that majority of Ghanaians are not ready to trust him, let alone vote for him in 2016 to lead Ghana. It is in the light of this that, I am lending my support to a Candidate who stands a better chance of attracting extra votes outside the NPP's core membership to win us power.
As an Electoral Area Coordinator, I am fully convinced by Alan's message of paying party executives who intend to work for the party on full-time basis. This is one of the surest ways of making the NPP attractive to non-NPP members and floaters. Alan is currently criss- crossing the whole country interacting with Polling Station Executives to know their problems at first hand. He has shown a great deal of respect to the very people who do the door to door campaign for the NPP. This gives credence to the fact that, Alan has the welfare of the grassroot people at heart.
Why would I leave such a man and join another camp? In politics, loyalty is very important. No matter the outcome of the NPP primaries, I'll continue to pledge my support to Alan, for the signs are clear on the walls that, Alan Kyerematen is poised not only to lead the NPP in particular, but Ghana as a whole, come 2016.
As many of you recall, I promised in May 2014 to lead a crusade to get at least, 80,000 NPP delegates to vote for Alan Kyerematen to lead the NPP for Election 2016. It is interesting to note that, despite the limited resources, GAKE's membership has risen from the initial 250 delegates to 50,125 delegates. This is no mean achievement so I do not see any political sense in switching camp at this time.
I am therefore appealing to all those spreading the rumour to put an end to it. Let's embrace change for there is no way the NPP could win the 2016 elections by presenting the same candidate, same running-mate, same message, and same crowd. At least, a change in the flag-bearership (from Nana to Alan), change in campaign message (from Free SHS to Jobs for the People, Cash for People), and change in crowd (adding floating votes to NPP's existing votes) could dislodge President Mahama and his NDC from government in 2016.
I hope the media would give priority attention to this press release in the same way as they did with the rumour.
Thank you and God bless us all!
...Signed...
Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang
(National Coordinator, GAKE)
Email: katakyienpp@yahoo.co.uk
Mobile: 0547851100 : 0264931361 : 0202471070
