Who Wears The Crown?

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) goes to the polls today to elect a flagbearer who will lead the party for the crucial 2016 general elections.

In the race are three leading members of the party, namely, two-time flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo; Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, who had contested for the position twice and Francis Addai-Nimoh, Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong in the Ashanti Region.

The three, who have been touring the length and breadth of the country, meeting delegates to solicit for their votes, brought their campaign activities to an end last Thursday evening after months of intensive and rigorous campaigning which were sometimes characterised with allegations, counter allegations and acrimony.

In all, 144,000 delegates from national to polling station executives and the Diaspora are expected to cast their votes to decide who becomes the NPP flagbearer by the close of day when the results of the elections are declared by officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) at the Efua Southerland Children's Park, Accra.

Voting would take place in all the 275 constituencies across the nation, with a special polling station to be located at the Asylum Down national headquarters of

the party for a certain category of delegates to vote there.

Voting is expected to commence at 7:00 am and close by 3:00 pm after which counting would begin in earnest.

Predictions
Many of the predictions that have been made so far put Nana Akufo-Addo way ahead of the other contestants.

He is highly tipped to emerge victorious with a commanding lead—not less than 90 per cent of the total votes that will be cast— judging from his performance in

the recently held special delegates' congress, which was used to shortlist the number of aspirants from the initial seven to five.

In that August 31, super delegates' congress, Nana Akufo- Addo secured over 80 per cent of the total votes cast, with his closest challenger, Alan Kyerematen,

garnering 7.98 per cent and trailed by Addai-Nimoh with 2.98 per cent.

For many, not much of a difference would come between the outcome of today's election and that of the special delegates' congress, apart from the fact that the

number of delegates would increase from 740 to 144,000.

If anything at all, many are of the belief that Akufo-Addo would increase his percentage margin to 90 and above, especially when two other aspirants—Joe Ghartey, MP for Essikado and Kofi Osei- Ameyaw, MP for Asuogyaman—

had bowed out of the race and given their support to him (Nana).

For some, the only surprise that could possibly happen in today's flagbearership race is for Addai-Nimoh to come ahead of Alan Kyerematen.

Endorsement
Nana Akufo-Addo decided to climax his campaign with a rally at Lapaz, a suburb of Accra, where Alan had previously launched his.

The mammoth crowd that poured out to witness the event alone was enough to send a signal of what was likely to happen today.

Aside that, he had the endorsement of all the 34 constituency chairmen as well as that of the 14 NPP MPs in the Greater Accra Region and that of the regional executives.

Rawlings' Boy Joins
Ahead of today's elections, a known National Democratic Congress (NDC) member and former President Rawlings' boy, John Vianney, had endorsed the candidature of Akufo-Addo saying,

'The man for the job at this material moment of our nation is Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo', describing him as 'a man that has shown tenacity of purpose in life and for Ghana.'

'I would prefer a short and old President with leadership skills to a tall and young President who himself must be led,' he said while reiterating, 'I am for Nana.'

The delegates, he said, 'Cannot afford to disappoint us', pointing out that 'Ghana under Nana would be a kind of independence for us all.'

Alan's Bit
Alan Kyerematen also climaxed his campaign with a rally in Kumasi on Thursday and a press conference at the Ellking Hotel in East Legon, Accra, yesterday when he enumerated his plans for the party if elected flagbearer.

He harped on his promise to put officials of the party at the constituency level on monthly salaries while acquiring motorbikes and bicycles for them.

The only familiar faces that came around were spokesman for former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Frank Agyekum; Davis Opoku Ansah, popularly called

OPK, an aide to NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong and KK, the serial caller with Nana Ohene-Ntow, Alan's spokesperson.

Nothing much was heard of Addai-Nimoh's mopping-up activities.

The Mampong MP believes that he is a unifier and that the party should give him the mandate.

After all is said and done, the rank and file of the party would converge at the popular Efua Sutherland Children's Park, directly opposite the National Theatre.

BY Charles Takyi-Boadu