NPP in a silent war against Akufo-Addo’s successor

Notice of Monday, February 8, 2021

Journalist: David Lawson

02/08/2021

It turns, but slowly and tactically, as suspicion begins to mount among NPP leaders over who will succeed President Akufo-Addo, after his constitutional tenure as NPP chairman and leader ends in 2024.

This silent war rages between four major blocs within the party with the power intensifying when government business begins after President Akufo-Addo swears in his full cabinet, after checking in this week.

It is evident that President Akufo-Addo will find it difficult to deal with this impending crisis as all the blocs except one are his loyalists.

According to sources deep within Jubilee House and at party headquarters, some of those blocs plotting to capture the party after President Akufo-Addo left have rushed to Manhyia Palace to plead their case before the revered King of the Ashanti. . Kingdom, to seek the support of the king.

According to them, it will be easy for the nuclear power plant run by Nana Addo to pass the baton to another nuclear power plant government if the vice president, Dr Bawumia is in the driver’s seat, as standard bearer – a decision interpreted by much like a tacit attempt by the pro-Akuffo-Addo block in the group to hide behind Dr. Bawumia to maintain their grip on power.

According to these sources, the activists who went to Manhyia Palace to woo Asanteman’s support are mainly key members of the Akyem group within the party and by extension President Akufo-Addo’s base.

According to a source, the designated minister of local government, the Hon. Dan Botwe is said to be considered the leader of one of these four blocs and his supporters are working hard to secure the standard-bearer place for him after President Akufo-Addo. Indeed, many political observers see the emergence of Dan Botwe as the second choice of the pro-Akufo-Addo bloc if the match ends against the vice-president. It is therefore no exaggeration that he is given the local government portfolio to sell himself to the grassroots.

But what it is unclear is whether the party will allow the Eastern region to lead the party immediately after President Akufo-Addo, who is also from the same region, given the apathy and discouragement in the Ashanti region, the party’s main base in the 2020 Elections.

The other two blocks, mainly the party’s World Bank, are led by two pillars and cabinet members of President Akuffo-Addo, namely Mr. Alan Kyeremanten a, ka Alan Cash and Dr. Owusu 6Afriyie Akoto aka Planting for Food & Jobs.

It is said that these two gentlemen from the Ashanti region laced their boots for the contest. While it is obvious that Alan Cash and his team have their eyes on the ball, it is still not certain that Dr Afriyie-Akoto will show up for the top position.

But a reliable source hinted that many party pillars in the Ashanti and northern regions could likely tip Dr Afriyie-Akoto for the top post if Dr Bawumia’s canvass fails.

According to some analysts, the party’s best bet for the 2024 election will be to present a consensus candidate from the Ashanti region who enjoys the respect of both elders and young members of the party and who also has a strong root within party. Alan Cash and Afriyie-Akoto, originally from the Ashanti region, are both deemed fit to save the party, given the weight of their base and the balance of power within the party.

However, many party leaders are concerned about the Akan etiquette on the party and are calling for the appointment of Vice President Dr Bawumia as President Akufo-Addo’s successor in 2024.

But another KNUST political analyst argues that the NPP will lose support within its traditional Ashanti base if the party ignores the fundamentals of electoral mathematics. The analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity, argued that “cautiously, it is a good idea to promote the vice president to succeed the president,” he said. Adding that “the elections of 2024 will have to be fought with different faces and new energy. It will be a bad game for the party to present Dr Bawumia in these elections, although he is a good material”.

According to him, Dr Bawumia will have no new message for Ghanaians apart from the argument that he does not have a solid base, politically. According to the political scientist, unlike Alan Cash or Afriyie-Akoto who both excelled in their ministries, the NDC will have an easier time damaging the credibility of Dr Bawumia as chairman of the economic management team and making victory in the 2024 election difficult for the NPP.

He therefore suggested that the Party rally around one Ashanti candidate to another to win massively in the region to consolidate its base, before looking elsewhere to garner additional votes, to ensure victory in the 2024 elections.

“The party has a choice to make in sending Alan Cash or Akoto-Afriyie to win the presidency.”

“Politics is a numbers game and the NPP must not forget this fact as the primary consideration,” he concluded.

Therefore, Ghanaians are watching with interest from the family, how President Akufo-Addo will deal with this latent crisis and the power game between his proteges as he directs these difficult affairs of his party and his government into his final days. .