NPP needs a prez not just a flag-bearer - Ohene Ntow

Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Ohene Ntow says he strongly believes Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen is best-qualified to be the President of the Republic and not only as flagbearer of the opposition party.

Speaking in relation to the blatant open declaration of support to Nana Akufo-Addo, the party’s 2008 and 2012 Presidential Candidate by some NPP Regional Chairmen and Members of Parliament (MPs), Ohene Ntow said, in his estimation, Mr Kyerematen is the only candidate with the charisma to make the dream of the NPP regaining power become a reality in 2016.

The former NPP Chief Scribe, who expressed grave displeasure after reports emerged that some MPs graced the campaign launch of the twice defeated presidential hopeful and declared their unflinching support for him, described the brazen backing of Nana Akufo-Addo by the MPs as an infringement of the party’s constitution.

According to reports, the MPs, numbering about 107, claim their action is borne out of mounting pressure from their constituents who claim they will not vote in the 2016 general elections if Akufo-Addo is not made flagbearer.

Additionally, delegates in the Upper East Region have unanimously declared their total support for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's bid.

All 37 delegates who will vote in the August 31 Special Electoral College, as well as over 500 delegates made this declaration at the Assembly Hall of the Bolgatanga Secondary Technical School, when Nana Akufo-Addo arrived in the region earlier this week to campaign.

When asked by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was addressing delegates, to indicate by the show of hands the number of delegates who will vote for Nana Akufo-Addo, the delegates leapt from their seats with spontaneous cheers of "Nana oo Nana," indicating a 100% support for Nana Akufo-Addo.

But Ohene Ntow, who also doubles as spokesperson for Alan Kyerematen believes this violates the party's own guidelines for the upcoming presidential primaries in October 18th and wants the party to take disciplinary action all those who have violated the guidelines.

Nana Ohene Ntow told the host of Adeakye Abia on Okay Fm that such lawlessness should not be countenanced by the leadership of the party.

He also pointed out that though the NDC rigged the 2000 elections, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor beat all odds to win the presidency, adding that Alan Kyeremanten is the right material for the party since he can end the bickering and discrimination within the NPP.

“I want to tell my party faithful and the delegates that it is not a candidate we need in NPP; we need a President, and if we vote for Alan Kyerematen, he will not only become a candidate but rather a President because he knows the job, and he is very humble to work with anybody irrespective of one’s Presidential allegiance within the party. He respects people and does not discriminate; he is the only person who can bring unity to end the bickering in the party…...it should be established that if winning elections is about big rallies and lot of noise making then NDC would not have won the 2008 elections, and NPP should not be staying in opposition till now. It is true that NDC stole the elections, but Kufuor won the 2000 elections despite the fact that NDC rigged that election too; that should tell us something as delegates who want power in 2016,” he said.