Not Yet Time For Ga-Dangme To Partner Akufo-Addo

Dr Nyaho Tamakloe

Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, a Leading Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that the call by some for a Ga-Dangme Running mate for Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo must be interpreted within the framework of the political calculus for the NPP Leadership and the rank and file.

He said recently, various names, such as Professor Felix Nii Lantei, Odartey Wellingtonhas come up in this regard but despite his strong commitment to Ga-Dangme constituencies he has always champion a North-South /South-North configuration for the

Presidential slate on the basis of Danquah, Dombo, Busia tradition’s historical commitment to regional balance, as best as this is possible and viable.

Speaking to the Graphic in an interview in Accra today Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said because regional balance might mean different things to different people however, the North/South-South / North configuration has been thus far dominant in the party’s tradition.

He said in the last election “we saw an excellent combination in Nana Akuffo Addo and Dr Mahamadu Bawumia and I can tell you on authority that some of the non-Northern persons whose name are making the rounds supported a similar ticket”.

He noted that at the same time there are some who must view the choice of a running mate purely through the prism of political logic, in terms of the votes that a running mate is able to bring in to the extent that, a certain national or regional constituency regard him or her as representing their interest.

This, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said might account for the various names that have been floated this far, including others that have not been reported by the media.

“Going forward, it is doubtful if Nana Akuffo-Addo and the party’s leadership will be pressured into making a choice, the decision will be carefully and thoughtfully made, weighing various pros and cons, as well as issues of availability, as not all potential candidates might be willing to be considered.

The issue of who will partner the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo Addo for the 2012 presidential election had generated a lot of anxiety among NPP members, sympathisers and supportters all craving to know who gets the nod to become the running mate of Nana Akufo Addo.

Some supporters of the party had lauded the idea for the NPP to break the old tradition of North-South Partnership and to opt for a Ga-Dangme running mate. Since the debate began publicly, there has been an unprecedented hope among many well-meaning Ghanaians, especially those in the Ga-Dangme community.

The 2012 general election will be very crucial and uncompromising for the New Patriotic Party (NPP). In fact Election 2012 is so crucial to Ghanaians that all strategies must be rightly adopted by the NPP if they are to avoid any shocks and setbacks.

Any form of complacency on the part of the leadership of the NPP must be avoided. One particular activity that would have a direct bearing on the party’s performance in the upcoming elections is the choice of a running mate.

The quest to choose a winnable running mate for Nana Akufo-Addo must, therefore, be the concern of all who have the NPP at heart. Traditionally, the Busia-Danquah-Dombo political tradition has always chosen a Northerner cum Muslim to partner our flag bearer any time the opportunity presents itself.

However, the dynamics of our contemporary politics and the huge population density of the Greater Accra Region coupled with its high-swinging nature make it imperative for the party to give careful consideration to the choice of a Ga.