Alan intensifies campaign but has more convincing to do

Alan and Akufo-Addo

A flag-bearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party Alan Kyeremanten has intensified his campaign ahead of the party's presidential primaries but may have a difficult task convincing delegates he is the right man for the job.

Alan Kyeremanten had trumpeted his credentials to the delegates in the Ada constituency on Tuesday with a firm conviction that the party needs a vibrant, marketable, personality for the NPP as they battle to regain power.

The former Trade and Industry Minister lost marginally to the 2008 flag-bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, in the party's primary in December 2007, and seeks to overturn that decision.

But some of the delegates are yet to be impressed.
Some of the supporters in Ada told Joy News the party needs a better strategy and not necessarily a new man to win the 2012 elections.

“Nana may have been a better candidate but it may be some lapses in the campaign areas that made the NPP lose, one of them said.

Another said that: “I don't think we lost the election because of the candidate. I believe the people wanted a change that is why they voted for the NDC instead of the NPP.

“I believe we should maintain our candidate because if we change there is going to be a lot of work to be done," she added.

However, a third interviewee said he has considered the views of Alan Kyeremanten and is sure to make the right choice when the time comes for election of the flag-bearer.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson to Nana Akufo-Addo, has debunked assertions that the 2008 NPP flag-bearer was not appealing, especially to the floating voters.

According to Abu Jinapor the results of the 2008 elections, if anything, proved that Nana Akufo-Addo is the popular first time presidential candidate in the country's recent political history.

According to him, both the current and immediate past president of Ghana failed to garner 49 per cent votes in their respective first time attempts to become president.

Whilst the then candidate Kufuor garnered less than 40 per cent in the 1996 presidential elections, candidate Mills also garnered only 44 per cent in the 2000 elections, he reminded.

He said Nana Akufo-Addo has shown scientifically with his 49 per cent votes that he is the most popular candidate and will make that popularity count in the next election.

Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interviews

Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com