In less than a month, special delegates of the New Patriotic Party will go to the polls to select five people out of 10, for the final lap of the bid to elect a successor to President Akufo-Addo as leader of the NPP, for next year's elections.
The statutorily mandated special voting by the specially selected delegates of the ruling party, has been activated due to the number of people who have filed to contest the coveted position. So to satisfy the party's constitutional provision, the number has to be whittled down to 5, before the final showdown in November to elect a flagbearer.
All these processes are part of the party's laid-down-procedure, but in reality, everyone, including those contesting, knows whose time it is to lead the NPP, for many reasons, and on the evidence of has happened so far, on the campaign trail.
A significant number of the 10 people contesting - have virtually gone to sleep, and are only candidates on paper, whose pictures will appear on the ballot papers to boost their resume. Their best shot at campaigning, has been sitting comfortably in cozy media studios and pretending to be convincing delegates.
With all due respect, the likes of Boakye Agyarko, Adai Nimo, Joe Ghartey, Kwabena Agyapong and Dr. Afriyie Akoto have not showed much seriousness, or impetus, on the campaign trail to even warrant any serious analysis on their chances. The delegates, most likely, will treat them with same unseriousness they have exhibited towards campaigning.
To be honest, the race can fairly be said to be a three-man race between Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen and MP Kennedy Agyepong, to some extent. However, even that, one of the three, Vice President Bawumia, is the real deal. He is, undoubtedly, in a clear, unassailable lead for many reasons.
This is not the kind of baseless "comfortable lead" the NDC deceived its followers with in the face of glaring defeat in 2020. This is a strong lead with basis; a lead with conviction, backed by the overwhelming show of support to Dr. Bawumia by the rank and file of the NPP party, wherever he has been, across the country.
In terms of seriousness, organisation, messaging and most importantly, appeal, Dr. Bawumia is streets ahead of his seeming main contenders.
Alan Kyerematen and Kennedy Agyapong formally started their campaigns across the country long before Dr. Bawumia, who had to wait for the party to officially open nominations due to his position as Vice President. But once the party did, and he officially started campaigning after submitting his nominations on July 16, he has not looked back, and the dynamics of the contest, have been as clear a sparkling star in the middle of a dark night.
Starting with a tour of the Greater Accra Region, following the euphoric submission of his forms, Dr. Bawumia has so far, remarkably visited over 100 constituencies, unlike his main contenders who are doing selective and cluster campaign, that is, transporting constituency delegates together to a central point, instead of going to them.
Dr. Bawumia's approach of going into each constituency and interacting with delegates and party stakeholders, has been welcomed, hailed and described as the utmost show of respect to delegates, as well as an indication of the seriousness he attaches to the process. Perhaps, others have decided to do selective campaigning, or are not going to the grassroots at all, because of the fear of underwhelming reception due to their waning popularity.
Another reason why Dr. Bawumia is ahead of the rest is planning and organisation. High level political campaigning hinges on effective planning, but it is quiet obvious the rest are not properly organised. Not even Alan Kyerematen, whom many would have expected a sophisticated campaign organisation, considering the experience he is supposed to have had in such campaigns. It seems the former Trade Minister has been deserted by his experienced strategists, and he is now surrounded by many people, who are more interested in projecting themselves than their candidate. Anytime many of his campaign aides speak, they utter controversial words, which make them the focus of discussion in the media, instead of their candidate and what he has got to offer the NPP.
To be fair, Kennedy Agyepong has showed much better organisation than the Alan Campaign, but even he, is nowhere near the well-oiled DMB 2024 Campaign machine in terms of planning and organisation.
MESSAGING
Dr. Bawumia's biggest strength is his messaging. His ability to positively project the party and government and reinvigorate grassroot party members, even as he campaigns for himself, is a major plus.
While others have been trying so hard to dissociate themselves from the so-called ills of the NPP Government, Dr. Bawumia goes to party stakeholders, owns up, highlights the successes and admits recent challenges government has been going through and assures them of improvement. The delegates are true party people and they love and appreciate this line of honest messaging which does not undermine the larger interest of the group, the NPP.
Thr Vice President also recognises and appreciates the challenges and concerns of party members. Key among these concerns, is the weak relationship between the party, especially at the constituency level and government. Dr. Bawumia addresses b this, by proposing solutions, which the rank and file have seemingly embraced.
While others do not hesitate to slam some key government decisions to delegates, Dr. Bawumia, in contrast, defends these decisions and explains to delegates.
While others downplay the achievements of the NPP Government and create a picture of failure, Dr. Bawumia energises the rank and file of the NPP by proving to them how the NPP in government, has performed much better than the NDC in many aspects, even in the face of global economic factors.
While others go around launching veiled attacks on the Vice President and government, the Vice President has remained calm, measured and focused on delivering his message of the need for party unity, as well as his his contributions and commitment to the party and government.
And while others preach about their wealth to party members and how they have supported the party with their money, Dr Bawumia preaches collective efforts and lauds the party grassroots for their indispensable contributions to the success of the party, in many ways, over the years.
If Dr. Bawumia's popularity is on the rise and reducing the race to 'Dr. Bawumia and the rest', it is because of the above. The Vice President has worked so hard over the years to earn the trust, love and support of the rank and file of the NPP party. They trust him. They love him. He has been with them all these years, in rain or shine, and they believe he can be a leader they can trust, to deliver victory.
On the campaign trail, Dr. Bawumia has not disappointed. He has proven exactly who the rank and file of the party have always thought he was; humble, eloquent, tolerant, knowledgeable and visionary.
Wherever Dr. Bawumia has been, the reception has been tumultuous, in a remarkable show of love by the constituencies, right from the grassroots to the top.
When it is your time, you don't need to be told. Everything around will indicate so. When it was Kufuor's time, the signal was clear. When it was Akufo-Addo’s time, the signal was clear.
It is Bawumia’s time! And the signal is undeniably clear. Even his fiercest opponents, both internal and external, know it is Bawumia’s time!
And after all these winding constitutional processes, we will all come down to one name as the next leader of the NPP.
That name is Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Source: Dr. Ekow Acquah/Political Communications Consultant
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Well said, from 2008 up to date Vice President Bawumia is the engine room around which the NPP revolves. He has been at the forefront of everything NPP . We all know that some powers that be are not giving him the free hand he needs to operate. If those in the corridors of power who thinks the NPP is their family property were listening to and going by the advice of Bawumia I strongly believe Ghana would have escaped the current economic and financial mess in which the country finds itself. The difficulty is how he's going to convince people that despite the number 2 position he holds, we still have people who looks more powerful than him. How come we have not for once seen or heard the Vice President commenting publicly of the domestic bond holders tango with the minister of finance, the E-levy, the IMF bailout, the suspension of road tolls among others. Isn't that a clear indication he kicked against those policies but the 'untouchable son' ignored him and went ahead thus his refusal to also make comments on them publicly? Another challenge Bawumia may face is that some of the appointees openly declaring their support for him have become very unpopular in the regions and constituencies they hail from thus the thinking is that if he becomes president these group of people will be appointed into positions to continue with their inward looking/ ethnocentric behavior. The constitution makes it clear that there must regional representation in cabinet. Thus if you are made a cabinet minister, that position becomes a regional one. Unfortunately some cabinet minister/s are rather concentrating on their ethnic group alone to the neglect of other ethnic groups in their home regions when it comes to jobs, development projects etc. Some also think that apart from them nobody else's name must be heard in the region. They don't want any young party person to grow.If you are not from their ethnic group there is no way you can get any assistance from them. The interesting thing is that their ethnic group are minority ethnic groups in their home regions, they don't have the numbers but we all know elections are about numbers. Bawumia should be very careful with such ethnocentric characters. People may not vote for him because of such people should he win the presidential primaries. If he put his ears on the ground he will know them. If you can win parliamentary elections in your constituency but can't convince your people to vote for your party's presidential candidates it means the party is not popular in your area. Which constituency should vote for your presidential candidate for you to get a cabinet minister position ? Some can't even win the presidential ballots for he NPP in their home polling stations. Yet another challenge for the NPP . Remember John Mahama once said the real owners of the NPP will never allow Bawumia to lead the party because he's from the north and that the day he will come out to declear his intentions is the day they will direct him to where he belongs, so if the NPP fails to elect Bawumia as their presidential candidate, the "Akan party" tag which has been an albatross on the neck of the NPP will give credence to what the opponents of the NPP have been saying. This is the main reason i support Bawumia to become the flag bearer of the NPP . John Mahama should never be given the opportunity to jab Bawumia by telling him " I told you so". But for this Allan kyeremantin and Kennedy Agyapong are more than qualified. I wish Bawumia had a team to be monitoring some of these comments on social media. They can serve as a guide. A lot more people have very valuable suggestions to offer him but can't access him. Some of those close to him are there for their enthnocentric and inward looking interest and not the party or he in person.
My last month paycheck was for 11000 dollars… All i did was simple online work from comfort at home for 3-4 hours/day that I got from this agency I discovered over the internet and they paid me for it 95 bucks every hour…..> . . Detail Here——————————>>> https://www.pay.salary49.com