Voice Of Unity At Last  

Nana Akufo-Addo
The process that started on 6th June for the NPP to elect its flagbearer for the 2016 election came to an end on Saturday night. The results were of course predictable. The resounding victory of Nana Akufu Ado was hardly surprising. His total of 117, 413 votes (94.13%) left his opponents so far behind as to make them almost irrelevant in the race. But perhaps in this sort of race no one is really irrelevant.

Indeed in this very editorial not long ago, we suggested that there was no point for Alan Kyerematen andHon Addai-Nimoh to contest the race in view of Nana's overwhelming victory in the first phase of the election. But come to think of it, there was a point after all. By persisting with the contest, Nana's opponents unwittingly did the party a lot of good. Nana's victory, not only consolidates his leadership in the party, but also sends a clear message that the NPP is indeed united behind their flagbearer. If there was ever a message of unity to go to the country and indeed the NDC, then this was it.

Thanks to the contest, the NPP has emerged invigorated and rejuvenated. The party is ready to take on the NDC.

One has to note that it is one thing to win more than 94% of the votes and support of the party faithful.  But it is quite a different thing to win the national elections; and Nana knows this very well.  Indeed the stakes in the 2016 elections could not be higher for him. After two earlier unsuccessful attempts in 2008 and 2012 to wrestle power from the NDC for the NPP, the 2016 elections represent a personal challenge. The question is: Can Nana beat Mahama and bring victory to the NPP?  The answer from the overwhelming endorsement by the party is: 'Yes he can!!'

As Alan put it on Saturday night, “at long last, the battle is over. The struggle to win power from the NDC has just begun.”  And the struggle has indeed begun. It should not be a hard struggle. On the night Nana was declared the flagbearer, half of the country had no lights; the economy of the country is in tatters and in a free-fall decline.  Ordinarily this should be enough for any opposition to win the election in 2016.  But it takes more than incompetence and bad government to lose an election. It takes organisation, good planning and discipline to win an election against an incompetent government.

The good news for the NPP is that after eight years of 'dumsor', not to mention severe economic hardships, Ghanaians have had enough; and the NDC knows this. As Nana himself eloquently put it, what Ghanaians need urgently is a government that can relieve the 'people of the unjustifiable hardships and difficulties they are encountering'.

If the NPP with Nana at the helm is to rise up to the task to relieve Ghanaians as he put it, then it must organise as never before; and it will need all hands on deck.

However one chooses to interpret it, the overwhelming vote for Nana on Saturday is a sure indication of a united and energised NPP.   But it is not enough.  The party needs everyone, including the tiny minority of Alan and Addai-Nimoh supporters. The crushing defeat of Alan and Addai-Nimomust therefore be converted into good political capital by welcoming all opponents into one united political machine if the NPP is to win power in 2016.

The party has spoken with a united voice at last.  It is up to Nana and the party executive to make that unity sustainable.