NPP 2024: NPP must not gamble with power, Bawumia as a candidate would be a regrettable political disaster

Dear Kwame Osei Kufour,

You again! Won’t you stop inviting troubles for the Alhaji? I have read your article with the title “2024 Battle: Bawumia is the Defending Champion, he’s the darling boy of Kufuor and Nana (Part 2)”. Quite frankly, I find it very amusing. As usual, you failed to impress with the content of your article in respect of real factual analysis. I don’t know why you keep writing the kind of articles you write, but I think you need to improve on your style. Don’t get me wrong bro, I just want you to improve on your arguments and analysis in your subsequent articles.

This is the second time I am responding to your article, but this particular one seems to be the worse of the two, as it suffers from analytical deficiency syndrome (ADS). Not only that, it is also replete with factual misrepresentations. I don’t envy you at my brother! This work they have given you to do is rather unwieldy. It would have been easier if they had tasked you to be squeezing water out of igneous rock.

Now, to the content of your unimpressive article! Since you chose to pick on the Hon. Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen, permit me to do a quick response to the things you said about him, before I do an objective facts and figures analysis to demonstrate to you why I am convinced that Dr. Bawumia is a hovering political disaster that should not be allowed to land on the party’s head in 2024.

First of all, concerning Alan, you drew this illogical conclusion: “In contrast to others such as Alan Kyerematen, who, as recent as 2014 struggled to gather 4% votes in an internal election of NPP Presidential Primaries, and even woefully lost in his own Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency to President Nana Akufo-Addo, it’s easily concluded that, the “declining appeal” of Alan Kyerematen is lacking in content and critical elements necessary to whip up the core votes of NPP in any general election”

Kwame, quite honestly, your grammatical construction in the above quote doesn’t make sense to me, but I will try to respond. Now, if your reason for saying Alan is not electable is what you have captured in the above quote, then you seriously have a problem as a politician. I think you seriously lack political wherewithal to really comprehend and analyze basic political or electoral issues and outcomes. So, let me help you, as I did in my previous response to one of your articles.

To start with, what you need to understand is that Nana Addo’s almost-there painful lost in 2008, won him a corporate sympathy from the grassroots. If you fail to accept this fact, then you don’t deserve any space in the political milieu. By corporate sympathy, I mean almost every party member felt the pain of that dramatic lost, hence the immediate showering of massive grassroots sympathy. That is why in 2010, the party sympathetically voted massively for him to lead the party again, after a deliberate expansionary changes were made in the internal electoral process to help him harness those grassroots sympathy.

But, Kwame, in all your hypocrisy, don’t forget what Alan did for Nana Addo and, actually, the party at the 2007 Legon Congress. How he wisely helped to keep the unity of the party by magnanimously allowing Nana Addo to lead the party as a candidate for 2008 when he could not obtain the required 50% plus 1 votes. Doesn’t one good turn deserve another?

Lest I forget, let me bring to your remembrance that at the time Alan graciously offered that political gift to Nana Addo, the Alhaji wasn’t a member of our great party. I mean as recent as 2007, Alhaji Bawumia wasn’t a member of our great party. Even when his best friend, Professor Ken Attefuah, succeeded in lobbying President Kufuor to appoint him as the Deputy Governor at the BOG in 2006, he still didn’t find the party attractive enough to join. These are undeniable facts, Kwame.

So, my brother, be measured in the things you say about a Founding Member of our great party. Alan was right there in the labor room as one the few brave men and women who did the pushing for the baby NPP to be born. Not only that, he was also among the dedicated few who outstandingly nurtured the baby until it could stand on its feet to win power for the first time in 2000. Thus, if the Alhaji, who, until his selection as a running mate, had never contributed a pesewa to finance the party, was made a Deputy Governor 2006, then know he is a fortunate beneficiary of Alan’s sweat, toil and cash.

Now, back to what I was saying about candidate Nana Addo (as he then was)! His defeat to Mahama in 2012 even generated more sympathy for him, as it was purported that his victory had been stolen from him. Thus, going into the 2014 presidential primary, Nana Addo had gathered the much-needed sympathy-driven momentum from the rank and file for a landslide victory.

Indeed, some of us were not surprised with that particular electoral outcome. In fact, at the time, most of the party delegates also thought age wasn’t on his side and that, Alan, could wait for his time after Nana Addo. Therefore, it is not surprising that the majority of the party people are now saying 2024 is Alan’s time. That is our cherished tradition and we would proudly and bravely keep it as such, regardless.

So, Kwame, that abnormal internal electoral outcome in 2014, cannot be said to be a representation of Alan’s “declining appeal” as you misleadingly and maliciously suggested in your article. It was a sympathy-driven political windfall Nana Addo was made to enjoy. Undoubtedly, the Alan brand is arguably the most appealing political brand in the country at the moment. If you single him out, what he is currently doing at the Trade Ministry is fantastic and mind-blowing. All the party needs to do is to leverage on his brand and good works to win power in 2024.

Interestingly, a similar kind of sympathy-driven momentum is currently gathering within the party for Alan in respect of his age and dedicated service, as well as his unique contributions to the party since 1992. From all indications, the party wouldn’t needlessly sacrifice its age-long tradition to appease any unrealistic opportunistic political ambition. No, we wouldn’t do that! This is not the time to gamble with power.

Once again, you ridiculously exhibited your political shallow-mindedness by making this lowly laughable argument against Alan: “Unlike Alan who will campaign to lead NPP because he is ‘a fante’, Dr Bawumia has shown his ability to unite Ghana and the Ghanaian people”. Kwame, to tell you the truth, you couldn’t have sounded more senseless in your argument. I mean how can you make this argument for the Alhaji? Your hatred for Alan has gradually driven you to the realm of absurdity.

Let me help you! Alan’s maternal grandma and grandpa were from Ejisu in Ashanti Region and Elmina in the Central Region respectively. Therefore, Alan’s mum and all her children became Ashantis automatically at birth, even though they also trace their root to the Central Region. This is so basic to know. So, why this strenuous effort to “de-Ashantize” Alan? Eeii, eben asem koraa nyi! Alan don tire!

And, you think people should consider this senseless argument of yours and vote for Dr. Bawumia to lead our great party in the 2024 elections into opposition abi? Kwame, be serious! At least we are all in this country and have seen how all the potential aspirants have conducted themselves so far. Frankly speaking, what happened at Sir John’s funeral doesn’t depict the Alhaji as a leader who has the ability to unite his own party, much less the whole country. So, my brother, drop that yam of argument ok!

Now, to your electability claim and all the things you said about the Alhaji to suggest that he would be the party’s best bet for 2024. Kwame, only persons like you would set Kufuor’s unprecedented social interventions legacy aside and attribute the party’s 2008 first round good show in the north to the Alhaji.

You see, in 2020, the NPP shot itself in the foot big time. Thank God it wasn’t in the head. Someway somehow the party believed that the Alhaji was going to perform some kind of magic up north to cause an awestricken fortune to rain down on the party. The Alhaji personally needed that fortune to back a theory they had propounded (Bawumia-effect), to boost his chances in 2023 presidential primary. That is why about 60% of the entire campaign resources was committed to his campaign up north. That meant the remaining 11 regions only had about 40% to share.

Unfortunately, the intended effect could not be realized with those massive resources and, in the end, the party’s parliamentary fortunes up north dwindled from 21 seats to 20 seats. Not only that, that delusional arrangement consequently caused the party’s performance to dip significantly in other regions, as 40% resources wasn’t enough for the other 11 regions. So, Kwame, you can now appreciate why the party lost its clear majority in parliament and, consequently, the Speakership.

As I have mentioned before, in Nalerigu-Gambaga Constituency, where Dr. Bawumia traces his root, the party’s fortunes significantly tumbled from 52% in 2016 to 47% in 2020 and, consequently lost the seat. The Alhaji was there in person to campaign, yet, his own people mercilessly rejected the ticket on which he was. Thank God 1D1F agro-processing factory is being established there by Alan’s Ministry to help repair the political breach there.

Again, in Walewale Township, Alhaji’s own backyard, where the party shockingly managed to win only 4 polling stations out of 35 polling stations, Alan was there with the President recently to inspect an ongoing 1D1F project that would give jobs to the good people there. Lest I forget, that is where the Alhaji casts his vote. Clearly, his own people don’t seem to like the NPP. Perhaps his NDC background is the reason.

Here is yet another disturbing facts that must concern every party member going into 2024. Over the years, the Zongos have been the NDC stronghold and the year 2020 wasn’t an exception. The NPP lost in almost all the Zongos in the elections, yet, the likes of you Kwame Osei Kufuor want us to believe that the Alhaji is our best bet for 2024. Not even his presence on the ticket plus Zongo Development Ministry could bait the Zongo votes into our basket.

Kwame, if the Zongos could reject the Alhaji in such a disgraceful manner, what do you think the fanatics in the Christian Community would do to us should we mistakenly present him as our candidate? Where would he get the votes from to win the 2024 election? Have you really sat down to deeply brood over the arguments you have been making for the Alhaji? My brother, as our elders would wisely say, when nakedness promises you cloth, ask its name before you begin to dance to the promise.

Moreover, in your attempt to dispel or deflate the reality of the religious factor within our body politic, you quoted some nice things a few Reverend Ministers have said about Alhaji Bawumia. Bro, why aren’t you too smart at all? Do you expect any Reverend Minister to openly say anything negative about the sitting Vice-President of the land? Aahh! No one would do that, especially after receiving the fat “offering” envelope he normally gives when he visits churches.

As I mentioned in one of my articles, religion’s role in politics is quite akin to the role of a silent killer in movies. It doesn’t kill you with the mouth, it kills you subtly with the heart. It sweeps you away like an undercurrent. Bro, if you care to know, I made some analysis not quite long ago to let the party know how the religious factor devastated the NPP in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency in the last elections. Perhaps you didn’t see it, so, let me briefly share that with you.

In year 2008, NDC’s Hon. Ato Forson won the seat from the NPP for the first time with a difference of 2,930. Before that time, the NPP’s Isaac Edumadzi (now late) had dominated that constituency for three consecutive terms. Ato Forson won it again in 2012 with a difference of 3,290. In 2016, he won it again with a difference of 3,698. The percentage increase was 12.3%

Ironically, in 2020, when the party treated that constituency as a special project to oust Ato Forson, the difference skyrocketed from 3,698 to 11,000. Kwame, close your mouth! Yes, the difference was 11,000! This time the percentage increase was astronomically 197.5%. The cause?

Mistakenly, the party presented Dr. Rashid, a fine Fante-Muslim intellectual in an overly Christian-dominated constituency. Perhaps they thought the PhD title could perform some magic. Unfortunately, the fanatic Christians in that constituency silently pulled the trigger and devastated the party, as the NDC quietly played the religious card. Prior to the election, the party actually rated the constituency so high and counted it as one of the seats to be won easily because on the surface, everything looked fantastic. But, you see, in politics, religious factor doesn’t show its teeth before it devours.

Bro, wouldn’t you humbly admit that what happened to the party in that constituency could be a perfect microcosm of what would befall the party should we mistakenly present the Alhaji as a candidate for 2024 in this overly Christian-dominated-country? It is often said that coming events cast their shadows.

Conclusively, I want to address your deliberate misinterpretation of what you quoted the Ex-President Kufuor to have said as his endorsement for the Alhaji. This is how you captured it, “In this time of “technocracy and solutions-oriented applications, the nation must count itself fortunate to have such a son as Alhaj Mahamudu Bawumia.” According to President Kufuor, Dr. Bawumia ‘rightly fitted the role of the much-needed analyst to help Ghanaians appreciate the challenges facing the economy’. President Akufo-Addo on the other hand has described Dr Bawumia as first class assistant.”

Kwame, isn’t it so obvious from your own quote that the Ex-President was specifically talking about using of technology to explain economic issues to Ghanaians? Or, you didn’t understand what he said. The kind of leader Ghanaians would like to vote for isn’t an economic-analyst kind of a leader who can employ technology to help us appreciate our economic challenges. No! They would like an economic-creator kind of a leader who has demonstrated practical ability to create job opportunities to fix the overwhelming job market unemployment problem.

In any case, the Ex-President only described the Alhaji’s fitting role as “much-needed analyst”. Or, that one too you didn’t see. Kwame, we all know how the Vice-President used to dazzle Ghanaians with his lecture room-like economic analysis. That is what President Kufuor was talking about bro. And, don’t you think perhaps the Ex-President was also referring to how the Alhaji has now become more of an ICT expert than economic expert? Let me clear my throat small bro. Ahem! I am just asking ooo!

Again, as for the President describing his Vice-President as a first class Assistant, it is normal. Or, you think it is something special to be making noise about. It won’t do the party any good if we exaggerate what the Vice-President represents in Ghana politics. Why must we tickle ourselves and laugh when, in actual fact, things aren’t that good out there? It doesn’t take much to know what’s going on out there.

Admittedly, like any other person in the government, he is contributing his quota to the best of his knowhow, but we also need to sincerely admit that his political currency has been depreciating speedily, as people continue to juxtapose his past statements and promises with what is currently happening in the country relative to his handling of the country’s economy and security matters as the head of the Economic Management Team and the Police Council.

Finally, let me say this, what the President says about him doesn’t determine his electability. What the people say about him out there on the street and on social media is more important than what the President says. After all, it is the people who have the power to elect a president. Kwame, have you seen some of the videos of him on social media and the kind of comments people, particularly the youth make about those videos? They are quite disturbing and must concern every well-meaning party person.

Well, if you ask me whether the unemployed youth in the country who constitute the majority of the floating voters also see him as a first class assistant, I would say I am tired of the phony noise and want to sleep. Hope to meet you face to face one day. Shalom shalom!

BY Ebo G. Buckman

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