Nana, Kufuor move hailed

Members of the opposition New Patriotic Party, especially those at the grassroots, have hailed the decision by former President John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, 2008 Presidential Candidate of the party, to work together at re-building the party towards a return to the corridors of power in 2012.

The rank and file of the party believe the two political heavyweights have a crucial role to play in the re-organisation process, especially when it comes to the issue of uniting the membership, since they now represent "the soul and spirit of the party.”

Since former President Kufuor returned from his trip to Europe last week, he has held at least two meetings at his residence with Nana Akufo-Addo on the way forward of the party.

The rank and file of the party believe the two political heavyweights have a crucial role to play in the re-organisation process, especially when it comes to the issue of uniting the membership, since they now represent “the soul and spirit of the party.”

Since former President Kufuor returned from his trip to Europe last week, he has held at least two meetings at his residence with Nana Akufo-Addo on the way forward of the party.

Top on the agenda of the meetings, which had some top echelons of the party, as well as close allies of the two leading NPP figures, was how to keep the party united in opposition, strengthen its structures across the country, and further sharpen its arsenal to win back power in 2012.

“What is taking place is in the NPP is a healthy development, and a step in the right direction because when the two party gurus allow things to fall apart, it will not only be disastrous for the party, but for the development of the nation as a whole.

We at the grassroots are therefore delighted to hear that they are working together to advance the cause of the party,” Kojo Quainoo, told The Statesman yesterday.

Quainoo, who is the Spokesperson of the University of Cape Coast chapter of the Tertiary Education Students Confederacy of the NPP, added: “You know, the unhealthy perception out there is that there is a Kufuor and an Akufo-Addo camp in the NPP.

This sometimes unfortunately affects the unity of the party at the grassroots level. In this sense, we can be assured of an absolute unity in the party at all levels when the two leading party members are seen to be working together.”

Dennis Kwakwa, a leading party youth activist at Mampong in the Ashanti Region, yesterday told The Statesman the decision by former President Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo to work together had been hailed by the rank and file of the party in the area.

According to Kwakwa, developments taking place in the country since the Mills-led National Democratic Congress administration was ushered into office, point to the fact that the NPP “will certainly bounce back to power in the next election in 2012.”

“All of us at the grassroots level are very determined and prepared to move heaven and earth to ensure that the party comes back to power, and I think any attempt by Kufuor and Nana to work together will provide a powerful impetus for our determination to come back to power.”

Frank Kussi, a staunch NPP member in Sunyani, has described the development as “a very refreshing move” which should be hailed by all party members.

“I can tell you the entire party members in Sunyani here were happy to learn that the two leading party lights are meeting to strategise on how to keep the party united in opposition and to work collectively at ensuring that we recapture power in 2012.

We are happy that the two appreciate the fact that each of them has a crucial role to play in the forward march of the party,” Mr Kussi told The Statesman yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Asare “Gabby” Otchere-Darko, has described the development as  “natural and positive”, adding that the two leading NPP figures are experienced enough to be “fully conscious of their responsibilities to the fate of the tradition.”

In the view of Mr Otchere-Darko, the two men worked “extremely hard” for the 2008 NPP campaign, “which was arguably the best campaign ever mounted in this country

Except of course a campaign's success is ultimately determined by the end results. I think several people who ought to have known better in the NPP have been most unfair to the Kufuors, Mac Manus and Akufo-Addos for their respective roles in the campaign.”

He said, from very close quarters he saw how hard the three men and others in the campaign worked towards winning what was a very difficult third term.

“Thankfully, tempers have calmed; the wild allegations about certain people not working hard enough or even not wanting an Akufo-Addo victory are all being discarded for their ludicrousness.

 The future of the party is looking remarkably brighter even in these early days of opposition. That is most positive and must be proactively nurtured, guided and guarded,” Gabby noted on Wednesday.

He therefore stressed the urgent need for people around the two men to avoid comments “which can fabricate a wedge and deepen that artificial wedge between two innocent parties, allowing the common enemy to slip through.”