How Nduom Betrayed NPP In 2008

The former Communications Director of Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, the 2008 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the author of a controversial book, �Chasing the Elephant into the Bush�, Dr. Arthur Kobina Kennedy, has criticized Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, the 2008 presidential candidate of the Convention People�s Party (CPP), of abandoning the NPP in the second round of the elections, resulting in the defeat of the party. According to him, while the NPP though Dr. Nduom had gone to Volta Region to campaign for them, he was rather campaigning for himself towards his 2012 presidential ambition. Arthur Kennedy wrote on page 142 of his book: �Within a few hours after the results were announced, I learnt that Nana Akuffo-Addo had contacted Dr. Nduom. While we were in Kumasi, the two exchanged phone calls, and my impression from Nana Akuffo-Addo was that Dr. Nduom would be supportive. We heard that he was on his way to Ho to campaign for us. When he finally got there, Dr. Nduom talked of �Nduom for 2012.� According to Arthur Kennedy, Nduom reported told close friends later, that he got more calls from the President urging him to support the NPP, than from Nana Akufo Addo. According to him, when it became clear that the NPP could not win in the first round, they decided to contact the smaller parties for help. They consequently, fell on Dr. Kwesi Nduom, who had served in the Kufuor government, and Alhaji Ramadan, father in law of the Dr. Bawumia, Nana Addo�s running mate, to help swing the CPP behind them. He, however, regretted that the national executives of both CPP and the People�s National Convention (PNC), led by Dr. Edward Mahama, who supported them to defeat the NDC in 2000, could not endorse the NPP. �However, on the ground, it soon became evident that operatives of the two parties were working for the NDC in most constituencies,� he said. Taking on Dr. Nduom, over his reflections after the 2008 general elections, the physician turned politician, stated: �The part of Dr. Nduom�s reflection that should concern us, is his implication the people voted in response to financial inducement. �He compounds this by implying that if he had resources, he would have done the same. Even, if his initial view about the influence of money on voting by ordinary people was supportable, he should have condemned the practice, instead of wishing if he had the resources to indulge in it.� He continued: �While Dr. Nduom�s point on the influence of money applies significantly to primaries in all parties, its role in general elections is dubious.� After launching the blistering attack on Dr. Nduom, he sought to proffer suggestions to the former CPP flagbearer. According to him, to make another credible run, Dr. Nduom must rebuild his bridges to his parties, and prevent the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from appropriating the symbols and history of his party. �Indeed, in my judgment, the central tasks facing the CPP are the ability to get credible candidates on the ground, their ability to unite with the PNC, and the need to prevent the NDC from presenting itself as the inheritors of Nkrumah�s legacy.� Touching further on the NPP government�s lapses, he said: �Our government was not sensitive enough to the NECCESSITIES of the election year politics. There were problems which were not tackled, and initiatives that should not have been taken. Why it may be impolite to say so, there are good policies that do not make good politics at particular times.� The defeated presidential hopeful accused the NPP of failing to address issues adequately and timely. �We failed to reduce adequately and in the timely manner, the price of fuel which would have helped many Ghanaians. Also in this category, was the failure to deal with the controversy surrounding premix fuel in the fishing communities along our coasts.� Stay tuned for more.