Conspicuously absent from the list of aspirants for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) boss position was Nana Akwasi Agyemang, the Ashanti royal who has held that position under previous governments.
He could have effortlessly annexed the seat, if he had not switched to the NPP when the NDC lost the 2000 elections.
Nana Akwasi Agyemang, also known as Okumkom, used to colonise Kumasi during the 23 years he served as mayor, under the National Redemption Council (NRC), Supreme Military Councils (SMC I and II), People's National Party (PNP) and Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) regimes.
In October, 1997, Nana Akwasi Agyemang was reported to have said it was impossible for the opposition NPP to win political power (The Ghanaian Chronicle of October 29, 1997).
He wondered how the opposition could snatch power from the NDC, stating that the opposition had nothing good to offer.
When the NDC was voted out of power in 2000, Nana Akwasi Agyeman denounced his long time pal and mentor, former President Jerry John Rawlings, and resigned from the party.
He defected to join the NPP, in order to help his brother, then President Kufuor.
He had offered to play an advisory role, and began his exploits by mounting political platforms, and campaigning for Ms. Christine Churcher in November 2004, in Cape Coast.
His campaign messages in Kumasi during the electioneering campaign in 2004 that the “ballot box is the kingmaker,” after showing the NDC the “red card,” thus “disqualifying” the NDC from Ghana politics, and the coining of the “One Touch” slogan, amassed votes for the NPP.
His efforts were not appreciated though, giving him cause to complain bitterly. Akwasi Agyeman was bypassed when the position went to Maxwell Kofi Jumah (now MP for Asokwa).
Nana was among candidates, who vied for the post of KMA Chief Executive in 2005, and lost it to Ms Patricia Appiagyei, who acted in that position for six months, until she was confirmed on December 9, 2005.
Meanwhile, official sources close to the NDC have indicated that the party would not entertain moves by the former Metropolitan Chief Executive of the KMA, because he has not, in any way, contributed to the survival of the party, and therefore cannot submit any application.
On his part, the party's Regional Chairman, Mr. Daniel Ohene-Agyekum, virtually the kingmaker now, and who is being accused of thwarting the efforts of Nana Akwasi Agyemang to make amends with the NDC, says he has not received any application from the former KMA boss, in respect of the mayorship. He saw it as mere speculation.
