NPP National Delegate Congress 


Ghana's biggest opposition party, the NPP will tomorrow have a date with destiny as it goes to the polls to elect a candidate to lead the party into election 2016. Three candidates are contesting the primary. These are the 2012 flagbearer Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo, Alan Kyeremanten and MP for Mampong in Ashanti, Francis Addai Nimoh.

Seven candidates initially expressed interest in seeking to lead the party but due to previous experience the party's constitution was invoked which demands a special electoral college being established to vote to prune down the number to five. 

The ensuing election saw the 2012 flagbearer Nana Akufo Addo topping the table with nearly 81 percent of the votes. Out of 740 ballots cast, Nana Addo polled 598
votes with his closest contender Alan Kyeremanten obtaining a paltry tally of 59 votes representing seven point 98 percent. Addai Nimoh and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Ghartey both obtained 22 votes each which is two point 98 percent of total votes cast, while Kofi Osei Ameyaw managed 16 votes which is two point 17 percent to pick up the last ticket. Joe Ghartey and Osei Ameyaw eventually dropped out pitching camp with Nana Akufo Addo . 

Behind the scene efforts to get perceived underdogs Alan Kyeremanten and Addai Nimoh to withdraw for Nana Addo to contest alone yielded no dividend. Everything points to a gruelling contest between the three candidates. At the end of the day it is the choice of the delegates that will prevail. 

One hundred and 44 thousand delegates are expected to cast their ballots at 278 polling stations in all the constituencies. They owe it an obligation to pick the candidate with the wherewithal and capacity to carry the entire party along into election 2016. There is no doubt the next general election will be herculean and the NPP has to gird its loins to do battle with the ruling NDC which definitely will not hand over power on a silver platter. It is true the NDC is having challenges managing the economy and this has shored up the confidence of the NPP. Whatever it is, the NPP has two choices to make, that is whether to go with continuity or make a U-turn.

Continuity means going along with Nana Addo or presenting an entirely new face which could be either Alan Kyeremanten or Addai Nimoh. Some analysts believe the party has to be consistent and follow the footsteps of the NDC which presented former President the late John Evans Atta Mills on three consecutive occasions till he won power in 2008. Others also say the party will continue to be in opposition if it does not change its flagbearer for a more youthful candidate. We are not too sure which of the two views hold sway but suffice it to say one issue which the NPP needs to consider as it goes to the polls is the problem of ethnicity. This issue has for a long time bogged the party.  The perception is that it is predominantly an Akan party and its flag bearers have always come from the Akan ethnic group.

What is of critical concern also is how the party will be able to unite after tomorrow's congress given the acrimony and animosity that characterised the campaign. Another critical issue that delegates will have to consider is the popularity of the candidates. Some of the candidates we know are popular in the party but not nationally.

Overall national appeal is important since after all, it is Ghanaians who will be voting in 2016 and not NPP delegates alone. This makes it imperative for whoever wins to be able to reach out to floating voters who always swing elections. Equally important to consider is the charisma of the candidates. This is an important asset any candidate vying for leadership must possess. Tomorrow's presidential primary needs not be a do or die affair. Whatever be the case only one candidate will emerge winner.

When this happens the other candidates must be good losers. They must be ready to lend support to the winning candidates after all the voice of the people is the voice of God. Delegates must play it fair so that a legitimate and acceptable leader will emerge. Any attempt to rig the primary in favour of a particular candidate will not augur well for the party.

It is good that about two thousand security personnel are being deployed to all the polling stations. Law and order must prevail for the election to end successfully. Nobody can force the hand of God. 

Whoever has been ordained to emerge victorious will certainly be so.

The battle is still the Lords.

BY JUSTICE MINGLE, A JOURNALIST