Congratulations Nana Akufo-Addo!

THE CHALLENGES OF CHOOSING FLAGBEARERS IN GHANA: Congratulations Nana Akufo-Addo!

On Saturday December 23, 2007 delegate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) decided that Nana Akufo-Addo, the Ghana Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, should lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against the candidacy of Mr. Atta Mills of NDC, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom of the CPP and Mr. Mahama of PNC for the 2008 presidential election in Ghana.

At the close of over 16-hours of voting and counting, Nana Akufo-Addo obtained 1,096 of the total 2,285 valid votes cast, representing about 47.97 per cent of the votes while Mr. Kyerematen polled 738 votes representing about 32.30 per cent. The Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama placed third with 146 votes representing about 6.39 per cent.

Congratulations Nana Akuffo Addo! We wish you all the wisdom needed to lead the NPP judiciously and finally to serve as the next chief executive of our blessed land, Ghana.

We want to take this opportunity to also congratulate the other contestants too especially, Arthur Kennedy for a campaign well-run. You made a commitment and you followed through. The important thing here is that you have finished the race; you did not quit in spite of all the hurdles you had to face on the ground. We are confident that your hard work will eventually pay off.

For those of you candidates who ran a clean and blameless campaign, rest assured that you did not run an empty campaign. For Kennedy I say: You will go down in history and in the minds of Ghanaians that there was this young Diasporan candidate who came to enlighten us about what government can do for our country. Hopefully Nana Akufo-Addo will recognize your potential and give you the opportunity to make a difference in (helping to) shaping the affairs of our nation.

At the same time we cannot blind our eyes at what happened during the campaigns and especially during the voting process at the 2008 Congress. NPP congregated in Accra at the University of Ghana, Legon to choose their Flagbearer amidst confusion and abuse of the democratic process by a pocket of money tycoons.

Thank God, at the close of the day matters were resolved and the ‘rightful candidate’ was elected who would possibly take over from the current President of Ghana, Mr. J.A. Kufour in January 2009. Notwithstanding, we cannot let the issue/problem die a natural death without any proactive effort to dig its roots and kill it once and for all.

For those candidates who felt they had enough money to buy the consciences of the delegates, ideas and vision for the nation and party did not matter. Now they have only few months or less to dream. That is, if their opponents from their other political parties also even had a plan. This is why it is crucial for the Established candidates to tap into the visions of the under-dogs. All the ‘underdogs’ had to show was their ideas and vision for the country and they work hard on it.

Article 12 (7) of the NPP Constitution, on the Election of the Presidential Candidate states "Where there is more than one contestant, each delegate will cast his or her vote by secret ballot for one of the contestants. Where a contestant obtains more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes cast, he or she shall be the party's Presidential Candidate. "Where, however, no contestant obtains more than 50% of the votes cast, there shall be a run-off between the first two contestants and the contestant with a simple majority shall be the party's Presidential Candidate. In the event of a tie between the two contestants, the run off will continue until one contestant obtains a simple majority."

Thus the race was basically between two front runners, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo 1096 (47.9%) and Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen 738 (32.3%). Although Mr. Alan Kyerematen had an opportunity for a second round contest, as the NPP constitution mandates the winner to obtain more than 50 per cent of valid votes cast, he opted to concede defeat to Nana Addo Dankwa.

Mr. Alan Kyerematen’s gesture must be praised by the party especially given the circumstances surrounding the congress as a noble act that would unite the party for the 2008 General Elections.

However, it is still sad that of all the hundred thousands and possibly millions of NPP card holders only a total of 2,285 delegates were extended this awesome privilege by the Party from all the 230 constituencies in Ghana

We are not saying or trying to assume that had the chosen of delegates been more democratic or untainted (or even that had it been done by the general NPP membership) the results would have been different. However, given the circumstances surrounding the congress, I hope the methods of choosing flagbearers of our political parties in general and NPP in particular would be revisited.

It is crystal clear that the way flagbearers are chosen in Ghana falls short of true democracy and encourages “monicracy”. Nominating only10 delegates from each of the 230 constituencies compromises the integrity of the party hierarchy. Unfortunately it makes it easier for delegates to be bought over with hard currency.

It was obvious from the campaign of most of the NPP candidates from the onset that the delegates when chosen would be corrupted with favors in cash and kind, especially when they had been neglected all these years in sharing the benefits of the regime. The sad news is, this may continue and resurface in the next congress so long as the party soldiers are not meaningfully recognized when the party is in power.

Sadly, as soon as leaders from the party are elected and a cabinet is formed the party becomes defunct.

It is time to embellish our democracy at the party level by allowing all card holding members of the party to take active part in choosing their flagbearers. By so doing the bribing of delegates and the corruption of democracy would be eliminated or minimized. No candidate would have the luxury and the funds to bribe even one percent of delegates if the entire party members are involve in the election process.

When all registered and dues-paying-party-members are extended the same privileges of electing their leaders the entire nation and the party would benefit. The party would then come out with a more decent and competent leaders; and the proliferation of candidates would be limited as well.

For now the ticket holders or paid-membership of these parties are being used by the party’s hierarchy to advance their own selfish agendas; they do not act with the interest of the nation and the party at heart (as such). I think it is time for the people (floor member of the party) to speak out. Reforming the election process of the political parties is long over due. It is urgent.

I trust Nana Akuffo-Addo’s government will spearhead such reforms in the NPP; not until then there would always be confusion and unnecessary tensions during congress.

NPP had better soldered the broken pieces before it rips the party apart (next time).

Imagine what would have happened if Allan Kyerematen had not conceded defeat? Anything could have happened. Thanks to Allan’s matured decision to concede when he did not have to all this would now be behind the NPP, though not completely.

Nobody knows what the true feelings of the other candidates who could not compete for lack of money to dish out to the delegates are, but for the sake of party unity and the 2008 General Elections these bad feelings and sentiments may be covered. But for how long?

Arthur K perhaps would have felt well if the mass of the party membership had a say in the choice of their leadership but the few would not be bothered by the ideas and vision of a Diasporan candidate. We wish to congratulate him all the same for the many ideas he’d brought to the table. There is no doubt in my mind that Nana Akuffo-Addo’s presidency would not tap into this human capital of the Party. This is one reason I am confident of the presidency and tenure of Nana Addo as our next president-to-be.

With his principles and ‘No-nonsense’ caliber, Nana would do well with the morally disciplined and outright competency and integrity of a cabinet made up of minds like Kennedy, Botwe and Frimpong-Boateng. Ghana now needs leaders who can not only execute but are also angry with the corruption and slow-pace of progress in Ghana’s socio-economic development.

It is obvious that a lot of folks would be bombarding the flagbearer-elect for cabinet and key positions as it is obvious that NPP would maintain the Castle again in 2009 but I trust that Nana Addo understands very well that the MORAL FIBRE of his cabinet would measure the success of his tenure of office not the paper-qualifications the supporters bring to the table nor their connections.

The duties of campaign managers and supporters must be separate from holding public office. Although everyone of Nana’s supporters need to be rewarded, I hope Nana would not begin his administration with round pegs in square holes. I pray Nana would put Ghana first when it comes to these matters.

Indeed this is a great opportunity for Nana to distinguish himself as not merely part of the Establishment but also someone familiar with politics of change for progress and accountability. One area I would expect Nana to excel as he gets ready to lead Ghana in 2009 would be maintaining the rule of law in Ghana. There is so much lawlessness under the justice system of our country where the well-to-do are manipulating the system. This ought to stop. All the covered cases must be opened and tried.

Once again we take this opportunity to congratulate the Flagbearer elect, Nana Akufo-Addo in particular and the NPP in general and pray for a serene and peaceful General Election in November-December 2008.

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.