Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng popularly referred to as ‘Asa B’, a former Minister for Information and other ministerial portfolios under President John Kufuor government will be joining the race for the Chairmanship slot of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Information gleaned from sources close to the Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) Authority (SIGA) has indicated that the former minister of state is taking the decision is as a result of calls from the rank and file of the party across the country.
He is being tipped to contest and win to take over from the current National Chairman Freddie Wosemewu Blay who has announced he will be seeking re-election at the end of his tenure next year.
Mr. Blay stepping down after leading the NPP to two successful election victories in 2016 and 2020.
THE CUSTOIDAN has gathered from reliable sources that the grassroots members of the governing party believe the former Local Government and Rural Development Minister, “is the right man with party organization and experience to chair the affairs of the party ahead of the 2024 general elections”.
Mr. Asamoah Boateng, also former Mfantseman West Member of Parliament (MP), with battling with seven other party bigwigs who have declared their intention to contest the NPP Chairmanship position.
Prominent among the seven are Mr Stephen Ayensu Ntim who will be making his fifth attempt at the position after four unsuccessful efforts.
Others are former Education and Railway Minister Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, former Ghana Ambassador to China Mr Edward Boateng, Central Regional Chairman Robert Kutin, former Greater Accra Regional Minister Ismael Ashitey and current National Treasure Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah.
‘Asa B’ tight lipped
Even though Mr. Asamoah Boateng has been described by some rank and file members of the party as affable and the best candidate for the NPP chairmanship now, the man himself is yet to make any public pronouncements on the matter.
He has so far declined to make a direct comment on his participation in the crucial race.
However, the SIGA boss maintained that the NPP needed every experienced hand to ensure victory in the election to continue with the incredible performance of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.
According to Asa B, the NPP under Akufo-Addo has done well in the midst of COVID-19, imploring members to rally behind the president and his ministers towards fulfilling the campaign promises made in the last general election.
Meanwhile, THE CUSTODIAN has learnt that Mr Asamoah Boateng will soon announce his decision to the party and will run a campaign of inclusiveness.
The former minister of state, the paper further gathered, will ensure that all former appointees of the party are brought on board to ensure that the party’s quest to break the 8-year tenure jinx is achieved.
Delegates of the governing NPP are expected to elect party leadership to preside over the affairs starting from March 2022, where polling station, constituency, regional and National executives would be elected.
The party will also elect a new presidential candidate, hopefully in 2023, as incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo is ending his term after serving two successive terms.
