Opinions of Wednesday, 18 July 2007
Columnist: Amankwah, Nana Kofi
It is not cynical for those who do not understand political ideology to fight for a position within a political party like the New Patriotic Party (NPPs) leadership, to think that such things can split their party. This is a conservative party which has it own traditions. Those who are not assimilate to their conservative principles will not win their party’s nomination. This is not critical political miscalculation for the funding members of their party. They know their chances of winning the slot
However, if any of the presidential aspiring who had some dubious hidden agenda of splitting their party due to his or her failure of winning the nomination should be vigorously banned from the UP traditions. Thus, the national chairman of the party has to be vigilant and be prepared to take draconian measures against anyone who will be found practicing such a vitriolic approach. Peter Mac Manu should not be seating in his comfort zones, acting like nothing has happened to their party. This is the crucial time for him to show some leadership skills on decentralization positions leadership within their party.
After all, he was elected by his party but not selected. He needs to inform his party members who have intentions to run for office at the constituency level to understand that they have to wait until it reaches their turn. These are the fundamentals principles in democratic government is continued to wait on the line. As a Chairman for the ruling party, he should be able to provide impervious information and make some drastic decisions on members who had already formed their own camps within the party to contest some parliamentary seats without the concern of the party’s executive approval.
In addition, the Chairman should have voiced his objections on those cabinet members who are resigning their positions due to their presidential ambition, while they are not going to win their party’s nomination. Mac Manu should have been persuasive towards the cabinet members to think about the unity of their party. Those who have the chance of winning the slot should have been the only ones rising from their portfolio. The constitution of the party has it own stipulations that they need to resign but common sense tells us that not all the eight cabinet members had a chance of enduearing. Out of the 20 packed field of people contesting for their party’s nomination only two of the cabinet members who has resign, one of them had the chance of winning. Based on the creditable information from various constituencies across the country with the exception of the greater Accra Region where the delegates had stand firm behind Jacke Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey. These are the candidates that have the chance of winning the NPP nomination. Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Nana Akufo Addo and Alan Kyerematen. As some media outlets are saying Kufour inner circles said Kufuor has anointed Alan Kyerematen as the NPP front runner that has given him advantage over his rivals. This is a false assumption. Jack Obetsebi- Lamptey, whose relationship with John Agyekum Kufour is in serious dilemma in recently, was not interested to stay on the job. As the minister of Tourism and diasporan, Jack was furious about the treatment Kufuor and his cronies in castle have treated him. He believes because of the things he did for Kufour for his two elections as his campaign manager, he does not deserve this malice. Predictions: Many of the so called presidential wannabes will begin to materialize and put peer pleasure on Kufours choice he wanted to support. Yaw Osafo Maafo should be taken very seriously to win the nomination. Among all the candidates he is the only one who has adequate financial resources to win this nomination. He has more resources than any of his challengers due to his book sales in head currency.