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NPP
Presidential polls
Gideon Sackitey, Ghanadot, Accra
A WEEK ago, the
ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) held its
Delegates Conference in the Eastern Regional
capital of Koforidua deliberate on developments
in the party over the last year and plot ahead
before choosing a Flagbearer.
A range of issues were discussed. Notable among
them were issues of who was
qualified to lead them to face the main
opposition National Democratic Congress NDC)
candidate Professor John Atta Mills in the
landmark 2008 General Elections.
Whether beauty,
looks, track record or vision would carry the
near 20-manrpresidential race aspirants or not
is yet to be known. But first a test of a poll
among loyalists and delegates, who will vote in
November, was taken during the conference.
Nana Addo Akuffo Addo, Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Regional Cooperation emerged tops in
a poll conducted during the recent
conference.
A report released by the party said he was
followed by Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama,
putting them ahead of the near 20-man pack of
NPP Presidential hopefuls.
The two-day opinion poll saw 76 per
cent of the 1,996 NPP
loyalists endorsing Nana Addo with 48 per
cent while Aliu had 28 per cent. Whichever of
the two emerges the winner would meet Professor
John Atta Mills in the 2008 General Elections.
The polls, conducted by officials from the
research unit of the party also gave Kwame Addo
Kufuor, brother to the president, 12 per cent,
with Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, Minister of Tourism
having 8 per cent beating Hackman Owusu Agyeman
and Trade and Industry Minister Allan
Kyeremanteng who had 7 per cent and 3.5 per cent
respectively. Allan’s polling is shocking since
he is believed to be the favourite of President
John Kufuor.
Four hundred of the people interviewed said they
were undecided.
The candidates were asked two basic questions:
Which of the aspirants in your view is the most
marketable? Which of the aspirants can best beat
Professor Mills?
Nana Addo came first in five regions – Upper
West (68 per cent) Western Region 47 per cent,
Volta Region 36 per cent, and Eastern Region 28
per cent. He also came second in four regions –
Northern 40 per cent, Brong Ahafo 31 per cent,
Upper East and Greater Accra 28 and 26 per cent
respectively.
Vice-President Aliu got most of his votes in
his home
of the Upper East Region with
39 per cent,
Northern Region 54 per cent and Brong Ahafo 31
per cent while taking second spot in the Upper
West and Ashanti Regions with 20 per cent and 24
per cent each. He lost the
second position in the Volta Region by
just 1 per cent, scoring 31 per cent.
Defence Minister Addo Kufuor came in strong
taking Ashanti Region, his home region,
with a commanding 62 per cent
and his highest being the Brong Ahafo
with 48 per cent. He made it second in the Volta
Region with 32 per cent and 24 per cent in the
Western Region.
Mr Obetsebi Lamptey who was a surprise aspirant
won in the Greater Accra Region with 30 per cent
and second in Upper East and Western Regions
with 20 per cent each.
As stated, Mr
Kyeremamten did not win any region. But came
second in the Central Region with 20 per cent
and a distant fourth in the Eastern Region with
18 per cent. He was however, second in the
Eastern Region with 28 per cent.
As one could see, the poll left out major names
such as Yaw Osafo Maafo who many,
less the poll, believe has all it takes to take
the NPP Presidential candidature, Dan Botwe (a
major power broker, having served as General
Secretary of the NPP leading it into power in
2000 and 2004 and later as a
Minster of Information) and Kwabena Adjapong.
Indeed, some believe the
final outcome will be an Osafo-Maafo-Nana
Addo race, with the
best gentlemen with wit and a good package of
programmes and ideas taking the day.
In this wise, some political scientists and
casual observers think that Osafo-Maafo has a
slight edge since he currently does not have a
Ministerial Portfolio which could be an
albatross compared to
Nana Addo who is on
constant national duty calls
at the Foreign Ministry.
Osafo-Maafo himself recently said his experience
at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning
and Education and Sports
would give him enough skill.
These political scientists
also think that he is much more of a
bridge, less confrontational and less hot-headed
unlike Nana Addo and therefore could bring in
more votes for the NPP in the decisive 2008
vote.
Another group strongly argue that Nana Addo is a
more known and acceptable face whose time has
come having twice given in for then candidate
Kufuor. They wondered why he should not be given
the nod.
Besides they also argue, Nana Addo is a
gentleman; a man whose immense qualities and
experience on the international circuit,
multi-lingual and strong character was something
Ghana was lacking and should thus be given the
NPP Presidential slot.
As a journalist who has met and worked closely
with the two gentlemen over the last six years,
I think it would be most unfair to make any
judgement except to say that a race between the
two “GENTLEMEN” would be tight!
Again, I am not a delegate and hence would not
be voting or even if I were, it would be in
secret.
Gideon Sackitey, January 14, 2007.
Ghanadot.com
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