Akufo-Addo Wins my Heart, But... Katakyie

For a party that has narrowly lost two consecutive national elections with the same presidential ticket, the issues of victimization, mistrust, impeachment, violence, and insults, especially on persons who opposed Nana Addo's presidential bid should be a thing of the past. However, the posture of some people who proffer to love Nana more than his wife leaves much to be desired.

For some strange reasons, most NPP supporters are quick to hand victory to the party even when elections yet to be conducted. This course of action, no doubt, breeds complacency, the 'devil' that sent the NPP into opposition in 2008 and kept it there in 2012. We are currently approaching 2016 and there are still millions of NPP supporters who as usual, have handed the presidential crown to Nana Akufo-Addo. Their confidence is further boosted by the high level of unemployment rate, high cost of living, energy crisis, failed promises, and corruption, that have characterized the Mahama-led NDC administration. But, should the NPP go into Election 2016 by riding on the back of president Mahama's incompetence?

As far as I am concerned, there is no empirical evidence to suggest that elections in Ghana are won by economic record. This is because, the electoral defeat of the NPP in 2008 and the retention of the NDC in 2012 proved beyond reasonable doubt that elections in Ghana are not determined by economic performance of political parties. Thus, anyone with political knowledge on the psyche of the Ghanaian electorate would attest to the fact that, three (3) key factors have always determined the outcome of Ghana's presidential elections - party affiliation, tribal affiliation, and personality traits of the presidential candidates concerned.

It therefore beggars belief why the above-stated factors are usually related to the background by some party supporters when electoral issues are being discussed. Go to the party's stronghold, Ashanti, Eastern, urban areas, and NPP mammoth rallies and there is a strong belief that Nana Addo is already the "winner". These supporters have soon forgotten that the figures recorded in the last two general elections - 49% and 47% of the total valid votes fell short of the 50% plus 1 required to win the presidential elections. Offer constructive criticism for the flag-bearer and these pro-Nana activists would meet you with insults. Out of sycophancy and hypocrisy, they hardly take time to analyze issues raised by those who criticize Nana Akufo-Addo constructively. Which political party wins elections with such attitude?

It is against this backdrop that I became overly excited with Nana Addo's call for all camps within the NPP to be scrapped. He posited; "Let us all remember that this talk of this person is a ‘Nana man’, that person is an ‘Alan man’ is no longer relevant. We are all members of the NPP, and I am going to work with all members of the party". From the above statement, Nana Addo has admitted that party unity is crucial, if the NPP is to chalk any success in Election 2016. It's thus imperative every genuine NPP supporter did away with anything that has the tendency to make the party unattractive, especially to non-NPP members.

Therefore, fanning provocative statements such as; "After Nana, Dr. Bawumia is next"; "No nine (9), No ten (10); "If Alan doesn't help Nana Addo to become president, he should forget about his", "Alan's presidential ambition is already dead", "Agenda 2020", etc must not have place in our political discourse. Again, passing dirty remarks on Kufuor, Otumfuo, Alan, Dr. Wireko Brobbey, Dr. Apraku, Dr. Anane, Dr. Arthur Kennedy, Katakyie, Hilda Addo, Nana Ohene Ntow, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, Ing. Kwabena Agyepong and Mr. Paul Afoko must not be entertained in our present circumstance. As party members, we need to accommodate each other, because election, as it is often said, is all about numbers. No single vote is more important than the other.

In conclusion, I commend Nana Addo for that reconciliatory statement; it cannot have come at a better time than this. I would however, urge him to go beyond the rhetorics by organising a "Unity Conference" for all camps. Nana should also involve leading members of the 'other camp' into the 2016 electioneering campaign. We, on our part, promise to work tirelessly for the party until victory is achieved for majority of Ghanaian citizens.

God bless Ghana! God bless the NPP!! God bless Kufuor!!!

Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang, Asante Bekwai-Asakyiri

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