DERAILING THE ELECTION OF A CREDIBLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP) FOR THE 2010 ELECTION: THE CASE OF THE FOUR (4) ASPIRANTS

It is increasingly becoming clear to most members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ghana's main alternative political party and indeed every objective political analyst that some presidential aspirants contesting the 7th August NPP Presidential Primaries are scheming in a grand design to derail the entire processes. Their actions, posture and utterances are designed to ensure that events leading to the election of a credible candidate to wrestle power from President Mills in the 2012 general election are disrupted.

Initially, one was of the view that the complaints, grievances, protestations, objections and groaning and remonstrations of some NPP presidential aspirants were made in good faith and in order to ensure a free, transparent and credible elections. It is extremely ridiculous to acknowledge that there is more to the machinations of these aspirants than the NPP will overtly admit. In private however, many high ranking members of the party continue to express disquiet and concern about the trend of events and political suicide being perpetuated by people within the party.

In the past few weeks, the Prof. Mills led ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been experiencing a number of image damaging state of affairs. Among these are the Rawlings' rent accommodation, the renovation of Nana Kunadu's mother's residence, the STX Korea loan arrangement, the KOSMOS-ExxonMobil offloading of shares, the kidnapping of Insight News paper photographer, the abysmal leadership style of President Mills as expressed by Dr. Seuku Nkrumah and the admission by the former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Hon. Albert Abongo that the 12-member government delegation that signed the STX Korea housing deal on behalf of the country in 2009 were bribed (or gifted) with US$2,600 each by the Korean company.

Therefore one would expect the opposition New Patriotic Party to spend its time and energy to expose to Ghanaians their best alternative policies for the people of Ghana, but the “enemies of progress” within the ranks are at it again doing what they do best, destroying from within. Now the attention has been taken from the NDC by these self inflicting members of NPP.

The Press Conference called by “The Representatives of 4 NPP Presidential Aspirants” has once more brought to the fore the efforts being made to derail the peace, stability, cohesiveness and serenity the NPP require. Now more than ever before, the NPP need to win the election 2012 and save Ghanaians from the incompetence of the Prof Mills's administration. Efforts, energy and resources are needed by the party but alas some self seeking interests groups are ensuring to derail the entire process.

The group of calling themselves “The Representatives of 4 NPP Presidential Aspirants” purports to be echoing the views of four (4) NPP Presidential Aspirants namely Prof Frimpong Boateng, Hon. Isaac Osei, Lawyer John K. Kodua and Mr. Allan K. Kyeremanteng tried in vain to convince the 7th August Delegates that somehow or other the NPP Electoral Committee and indeed the National Executives of NPP are skewing the 7th August elections in favor of the “absentee” aspirant Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo.

It has possibly become evident to these aspirants and their representatives that the man to beat in this contest is Nana Addo. As their efforts to persuade delegates to change their massive support for Nana Addo continue to elude the four, they are desperately creating tension, disunity, untrustworthiness and hatred for the electoral processes in order to reject the decision of delegates on 7th August 2012. The four seeing defeat clearly staring at them, have come together to form a coalition, a clique. The coalition allegedly known as the Coalition of Defeated Presidential Aspirants (CDPA) also known variously as the Association of Defeated Presidential Aspirants (ASPA) seem to have vowed to ensure that by the time the delegates decide on the 7th August, 2010, the political atmosphere within the NPP would have been so poisoned that Nana Addo and the entire NPP leadership, polling station executives and members will expend time, energy and resources on unity and peace talks.

This will effectively put the major battle of the 2012 national election campaign into difficulty. The consequence is that the NDC may then have a field's day in the run up to election 2012. These worrying phenomena gives credence to some delegates view and thinking that the clique, CDPA is ready to throw out issue that will be disingenuous to Nana Addo and the NPP in order to justify themselves in the unlike event that the NDC wins the 2012 election with an “I TOLD YOU SO” debacle. The NPP in opposition seem to be wallowing in self inflicting misfortunes. It is ironical that the statement from the press conference of the representatives of the Coalition of Defeated Presidential Aspirants (CDPA) indicated the importance of a free, fair and transparent election in order to advance the course of NPP.

It is also instructive to note from their press statement that CDPA believed a united NPP is most likely to be successful at the 2012 national elections. The group also accepts that a fundamental prerequisite of the unity they crave for is an election that leaves no doubt whatsoever about the quality of the decision. Additionally, they believe that the fundamental building block of a transparent election is the quality of the Electoral register.

Ordinarily, these concerns are extremely pertinent for a successful electoral project akin to the Presidential Primaries of the NPP. Every well meaning member of NPP and in fact democratically minded person welcomes these suggestions. The paradox here however is that the proponents of these laudable democratic credentials have refused or failed to adhere to the rules of engagement. All political parties, association and societies are governed by rules and those who ascribe to join are entreated to eschew personal nuances and adhere to the tenets as indicated. The NPP, like all political parties in Ghana and other democratic societies, is governed by a constitution, the basic rules of engagement. Every card bearing member especially high ranking personalities of the party is expected to acquiesce him/herself about the provisions therein.

Article 3 Section D of the NPP constitution stipulates the duties of a member of NPP. It states that: A member of NPP shall (i) protect and promote the good name of the party; (ii) protect the unity of the party (iii) be loyal to the party (iv) abide and publicly uphold the decisions of the party.

The actions of CDPA has dragged image of the party into disrepute, and do not promote and protect the good name of the party. Their actions also seek to disturb the unity of the party. Clause (iv) admonishes members to be loyal, loyalty means faithfulness or a devotion to a person, country, group, or cause, in this case the party. It clear that such actions are not exhibition of loyalty by any stretch of imagination. Clause (iv) of article 3 section D states that members abide and publicly uphold the decisions of the party. It can be adduced that in the event that one disagrees with the decision of the party, such a member will use the internal grievance procedures to achieve one's objectives.

The Electoral Committee of the party is appointed by the National Executive Committee as mandated by the NPP Constitution. The Electoral Committee is to set up the modalities for all elections and grievance procedures are explicitly spelt out. Therefore for CDPA to go public without exhausting the laid down procedure smacks of insincerity and lack of good faith. This attitude defeats all the points raised about a free, fair and transparent election. The representatives of the aspirants did not follow due process in laying their concerns bare with the party executives before going public.

The major point of concern as adduced by CDPA the quality of the electoral register. Assuming without admitting that there are some discrepancies and inconsistencies about the register at the National Headquarters of NPP, the group will have petitioned the appointing authority for redress rather than resort to the press. The pursuit of a free, fair and transparent election is not mutually exclusive to the Electoral Register. These electoral parameters are achieved also through respecting and abiding by the rules of engagement.

The 7th August Election will be conducted at the various constituency levels. The voters' register are lodged at the various constituency offices. Delegates are made up of polling station executives within each constituency. These same delegates voted earlier this year to elect the various constituency executives using the same register.

The Electoral Committee decided to collate all the 230 constituency electoral register into a single document electronically. Copies of the Constituency Register were made available to the Electoral Committee and efforts were then made to put same into an electronic form. Some problems may have been encountered resulting in the discrepancies raised by the representative of CDPA. The original delegate register which is at the various constituencies are intact. There have been no alterations, insertions, amendment or modifications. It is these registers which are currently lodged at the Constituency offices which will be use for the election. To raise red flags on an issue so elementary in a press conference clearly indicate that the four aspirants are preparing the grounds for rejecting the decision of 7th August. They have realized that the most credible, the most marketed, the most popular, the most articulate, the most astute, the most confident, the most decisive and the consistent and persistent candidate, the man with the most clear and unambiguous vision for NPP and Ghana amongst the lot is Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo. They will not succeed in all their machinations in derailing and denying the NPP and Ghana such an excellent opportunity in Nana Addo.

The conduct of these representatives purporting to be speaking for the CDPA constitutes gross misconduct of a member of NPP. Article 4 clauses 7 of the NPP constitution spells out what constitute a misconduct for which disciplinary procedure should be initiated. These acts of misconduct include: (i) Violation of the duties of a member; (v) breach of the duty to uphold publicly Party policies; (vi) creation of discord or factionalism within the party; (vii) bringing the name of the party into disrepute or public ridicule.

Supporters of Nana Akuffo Addo, have respected the constitution of the party at all times. Even when certain actions and decisions could clearly be to his advantage, Nana Addo refused to be drawn into cheap populism. A case in point was the debate about whether or not Mr. Allan K. Kyeremanteng resigned from the party. This debate had the potential to scuttle aspiration of Mr. Kyeremanteng. However, the Nana Addo's supporters held their peace and more importantly respected the decision of the National Executive Council on the issue. Nana Addo's team waited patiently, no press releases and no press conferences were held to fan the debate and bring the image of the party into disrepute. Although Article 3 clause H (2) was breached by Mr. Kyeremanteng, no one raised an issue with the decision of the Executive Council. Why are CDPA's representatives muddying the waters for the 7th August elections?

There is a school of thought which suggests that CDPA is bent on making sure that Prof Mills retains power in 2012 so that by 2016, when Ghanaians would have been fed up with the NDC. Nana Addo would most likely retire from active politics so that whoever emerges as a presidential candidate from NPP will win the 2016 election. They argue that should Nana Addo win 2012, he will most likely win the 2016 election given him a clean eight (8) year rule. In that event, those who are using youthfulness as their trump card will have +8 added to their current age. Their ghost will then come to hunt them.

It is the hope of all NPP and Ghanaians that the latest effusions will be the last. The NPP needs the support from all, peace, unity and cohesiveness within its ranks in order to succeed in winning the 2012 elections. Those trying to derail the process at every turn should know that the party's interest is supreme to any individual and/or sectional aggrandizement.

Let us all work in unison to return the elephant to power and restore hope to the Ghanaian.

Long Live the NPP
Long Live Ghana
Author:
Fred Amankwah-Sarfo
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 054 433 1324 / 024 4255 525