Former Minister for Roads and Highways under the Kufuor administration Dr. Richard Anane has stated it will not be farfetched for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to also argue that it is his turn to lead the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In apparent reference to Alan Kyerematen, Dr. Anane said he does not understand why people are claiming it is their turn to lead NPP.
Former Minister for Trade and Industry Alan Kyerematen is claiming it is his turn to lead NPP after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
As a result, his loyalists with his full endorsement have campaigning and holding health walks ahead of NPP’s presidential primaries with a mantra, ‘Aduro Wo So’, meaning ‘it is your turn’.
However, Dr. Anane stated that jostling in the governing NPP for the flagbearership position and the claims of ‘Aduro me so’ are overrated.
According to him, what matters most is the performance of any individual aspiring for the position and for this performance to be visible, not only to NPP followers but Ghanaians as a whole.
“I don’t know why some people tend to talk about ‘Aduro me so’ (to wit it is my turn).
“It is a matter of having performed well and the evidence is visible for all to see what the person has done and then be picked to lead the party”, the former Minister under the John Agyekum Kufuor-led NPP stated.
Dr. Anane who also headed the Ministry of Health under the previous NPP government was speaking in an interview in Kumasi.
He argued that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has much right as any of the aspiring candidates to contest for the NPP flagbearership and be elected to lead.
According to him, it is as much Dr. Bawumia’s time just as it is for those claiming it is their time to lead.
The Vice President’s father, he said, is one of the founding fathers of the Northern People’s Party (NPP), which joined the National Liberation Movement (NLM) and other groups that eventually became the United Party (UP), the tradition of the current New Patriotic Party.
“So if his father was a founding father of the Northern People’s Party, which is part and parcel of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition, then others can equally argue ‘Aduro Dr. Bawumia so,” he stressed.
The contest to lead the governing NPP is heating up with about 10 candidates expressing their interest to succeed President Akufo-Addo.
Incidentally, the followers of former Minister for Trade and Industry have been the loudest insisting it is time for Alan Kyerematen to lead the NPP as its de facto leader.
They argue Mr. Kyerematen was convinced to step down for President Akufo-Addo once during a flagbearer contest and he willingly did so, hence it is only right he becomes the heir-apparent to the President.
Accordingly, they have organised ‘Aduro Wo So’ (it is your turn) health walks in Accra and Kumasi to garner support for Alan to lead the governing party.
However, followers of the Vice President also believe the successes of the NPP in the 2016 and 2020 elections were largely due to the performance of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Hence he must succeed President Akufo-Addo as the NPP’s presidential candidate for the next election, especially if the party wishes to ‘break the 8’ and retain power in 2024.
Alan deserted
Meanwhile, a number of key allies of Alan have quit his campaign, and are vigorously campaigning for Vice President Bawumia, who enjoys strong support at all levels of the party, including the grassroots.
Former Volta Region Minister Kofi Dzamesi who had been strong Alan campaigner over the years has declared his support for the Vice President in the upcoming contest for the NPP flagbearership.
Individuals including the Vice President, Alan Kyerematen, and MP for Assin Central Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, have declared their interest to contest for the position.
However, Mr. Dzamesi believes the best among those interested is Vice President Bawumia.
Addressing a meeting of NPP party faithful in the Volta Region last week, the former regional minister said only the Vice President can lead the NPP to victory in 2024.
“Dr. Bawumia is the only one who can break the 8 for NPP. I support him,” Kofi Dzamesi said.
Dzamesi’s endorsement of Dr. Bawumia, surprised many due to his past efforts as a leading campaigner for Alan.
