Diagnosis of Akufo-Addo's Electoral Chances in 2016 - Part II

Looking at the level of mismanagement of the economy and hardship imposed on Ghanaians by the ruling NDC, it is no gainsaying that Ghanaians are yearning for the return of NPP into government. However, the fact that Ghanaians want the NPP in power does not mean anybody at all should be presented as the party's Presidential Candidate. Nana Addo, our best bet for both Election 2008 and Election 2012 has been rejected thrice at the polls (run-off included). He took the NPP from power into opposition and retained the party in opposition in his second attempt. In spite of this, one school of thought argues that Nana Addo should be given a fourth time opportunity in 2016. This write-up is the Part II of the assessment of Nana Addo's chances in 2016. It further advises NPP delegates to be circumspect in their choice of the next flag-bearer for the party.

1. MOST NPP MEMBERS WON'T VOTE, IF NANA ADDO DOES NOT LEAD NPP IN 2016

The mantra; "No Nana, No Vote" is the worst political statement after "All die be die". It is selfish and wicked statement, and shouldn't have come from the NPP's end. Why should people decide not to vote just because their preferred candidate did not get the mandate? Did it happen in 1992; did it happen in 1996; did it happen in 1998; did it happen in 2007; and did it happen in 2010? Why will it happen in 2016?

2. WHAT WILL BE THE EFFECT OF ANOTHER AKUFO-ADDO's DEFEAT?

It will take miracles for Akufo-Addo to erase the 323,663 vote deficit between him and Mahama. Since 1992, no incumbent president has lost to a candidate he had beaten previously. Therefore, it is likely Nana Addo will lose to Mahama in 2016. A third time defeat to the NPP under Akufo-Addo will have dire consequences on the party. This is because, the NPP will be forced to bring a new candidate for Election 2020. That NPP new candidate is likely to meet a sitting vice president on NDC's ticket which is likely to be either Spio-Garbrah or Hannah Tetteh. It will be another difficult task for the NPP to win Election 2020.

3. GHANAIANS NOW SEE NANA AS NON-VIOLENT

For the past few years, Nana Addo has been portrayed by the NDC propagandists as a violent person. His declaration of "All die be die" prior to the 2012 elections deepened that assertion. After his defeat at the polls, there was assumption that Nana Addo wouldn't accept the results declared by the Chairman of Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Afari Gyan. Nana Addo took the EC to the Supreme Court. He was again declared loser, but he accepted the verdict. As a result, there is the wrong assumption by a section of the NPP members that, Nana Addo would get sympathy votes from the electorates. As to where the sympathy votes would come from, we are yet to know. Going into crucial election with such notion is risky, because sympathy votes are not manufactured. The NPP must work hard to get more votes but not to rely on sympathy votes.

4. WHAT STRATEGIES HAS NANA ADDO PUT IN PLACE TO WIN 2016?

Nana Addo keeps giving false hopes to his supporters. In 2007, he had this to say; "I have to begin by thanking all my colleagues in this epic contest. I am humbled that among this formidable array of political and intellectual talent that has been before you, you have decided to confer the mandate on my modest person. I am grateful to you and want to let you know I will do anything within my power not let you down, so that the decision you have made here will bare fruits for us next year". Similarly, he had this to say in 2010; "I shall deliver the Presidency unto this great political party of ours and I promise you all, this time I shall not disappoint". In July 2014, he launched his campaign in Accra and he had this to say; "Let’s think about the future of our party, let’s think victory 2016. The NPP cannot afford to lose the 2016 elections". The question is; for how long will this man continue to take NPP supporters for a ride? Instead of talking about plans to resource the party, plans to win floating votes, and policy issues, he is constantly telling Ghanaians about the failure of Mahama and his NDC without offering solutions. Who doesn't know that the economy is being mismanaged? I think Nana Addo should be honest to tell us the main causes of his abysmal performances in national elections, and how he could improve upon them.

5. CAN THE NPP WIN MORE REGIONS UNDER NANA ADDO?

Nana Addo's best electoral performance was in the 2008 first round when the NPP was in power. He managed to reduce Kufuor's six (6) regions to three (3) - Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti and Eastern. In the 2008 run-off and 2012 elections, Nana struggled to maintain the two strongholds of the NPP. Apart from losing three (3) Akan Regions - Central, Western, and Brong-Ahafo, Nana Addo has not been able to win the Greater Accra, a region he had lived most of his life. What is more serious and surprising is his performance in his home region, Eastern. He struggled to win only 56.97%, and lost six (6) Polling Stations in the Abuakwa South Constituency to John Mahama. Kufuor, an Asante, won 60% in the Eastern Region and what does this tell you? The percentage vote in Ashanti has reduced from 80.50% to 70% under Nana Addo. How do you win election 2016 with a struggling two regions? Dr. J.B. Danquah, William Ofori-Atta (Paa Willie), Prof. Albert Adu Boahen, and Nana Akufo-Addo all from Eastern Region have failed to win presidential elections.

6. NANA ADDO CAN MANAGE THE ECONOMY BETTER

There is an adage that says; "3b3si wo so a, anka y3hy33 wo ma". We need to question the managerial competence of Nana Addo as an MP and Minister of State. Did he do anything special to suggest that he could be a better manager of our economy? As a Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Tatsu Tsikata floored him in the famous Tastu vrs. the Republic case. He could not also compensate the four (4) Ghanaians who lost their lives in the "Kume Preko" demonstration. As a Foreign Minister, it was alleged that many diplomatic passports got into wrong hands. He could also not secure compensation for the 44 Ghanaians killed in The Gambia. One cannot pinpoint anything extraordinary in the Abuakwa South Constituency, where he was an MP for 12 years

Let's all join the new group; Get Alan Kyerematen Elected (GAKE) on Sunday, August 3, 2014 at Rexmar Hotel in Kumasi, as we set to have out Maiden National Conference & Fundraising at 2pm.

Vote Alan! Vote NPP!!

Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, Asante Bekwai-Asakyiri. Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 0547851100 : 0264931361 : 0202471070