A political historian, Samuel Adu Gyamfi, has said the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will have a herculean task in realising its mantra of “breaking the 8”.
The party wants to make history by being the first to stay in power beyond eight years.
Adu Gyamfi’s comment is coming on the back of the party’s regional executive elections which saw 12 incumbent regional chairmen of the NPP retained their seats over the weekend.
Speaking to Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (31 May), Adu Gyamfi said: “It will not be easy for the NPP to break the 8… But it is possible!”
“If we go to election today, the NPP may not be able to win the election! But beyond everything, the nature of the opposition’s message and how it is presented will decide election 2024.”
He added: “A question that the NPP should answer is that, are the people who have been elected as their regional executives there to win them the elections or for financial gain?”
He, however, advised the party to seriously consider the Bawumia-Alan ticket if the party really wants to win the 2024 elections.
Pick Bawumia as flagbearer, Alan his running mate – Atta Akyea to NPP
Samuel Atta Akyea, the MP for Abuakwa South has endorsed the vice-president Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2024 elections.
According to him, the party will save for itself money and the acrimony that characterises internal elections to pick a presidential candidate if the executives by consensus agree that Bawumia is the most marketable choice to break the eight.
Speaking on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (26 May), the former works and housing minister said the party can pick the current trade minister and a leading contender for the position Alan Kyerematen as Bawumia’s running mate in the lead up to the elections.
Formidable force
Atta Akyea said the duo will present a formidable force and enhance the party’s chances of retaining power.
“I hold some strong views that my very good brother Alan Kyerematen is very competent, he can do this job,” the lawmaker said. “I am looing at this party from a perspective of a national party in which you will say that the driver should pick a competent mate, the one who will assist him to make sure the passengers are seated.”
He added: “I don’t believe in permanent mates, I believe that a mate can also graduate in becoming a driver. And I also believe that we have been tagged terribly as an Akan dominated party, so we could change the face of our party.
“Bawumia has been the vice president for two terms, but he has been the mate for16 years. I believe that if these two people can look at it well, the strength of Alan Kyerematen can aid the vice-president and the twin can do a good job for this party and our country. It is a conversation we shouldn’t stop and if we see the light in that, we wouldn’t have troubles.”
“So that arrangement of getting Alan to partner Bawumia, we should look at it very well… it’s eminently sensible,” Atta Akyea said.
Fred Dzakpata
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