The internal political atmosphere in the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is charging gradually following the August flag bearership contest, and the impending November 4th contest that is promising to go down in history as a showdown.
This feature, would therefore give you the reader, the actual rundown of the showdown before sundown.
As you may be aware, the battle line between the front runners has been drawn following the August contest, therefore, Ghanaian electorates are only awaiting the ultimate verdict of delegates of the NPP on November 4th 2023.
Why Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten Failed?
Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, who has already chickened out of the flag bearership race, despite appearing more charismatic, and as the man to watch, he rather suffered defeat and perhaps his worst political performance in the the NPP when he placed third in the August 2023 flag bearership contest, therefore making him instantly the third force against Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong who surprisingly emerged second in the contest unexpectedly.
Here, what many Ghanaians, whose expectations of Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten were high, did not know is that, the man Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten is naturally mild in temperament and truly lacks the audacity of hope as often carried along by seasoned politicians.
Again, he failed to develop and work with tenacity to paddle off attacks and the tendency to dominate opponents.
He showed from the onset of the contest that he could easily be overcome by the mere display of muscular enforcement of ganster rules and coercive conventions in the party even as the elections committee of the NPP chaired by Professor Mike Oquaye had in plans to discipline aspirants stringently, so they would bottle up their emotions.
In addition, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, naturally, is reserved, considerate, and lacks aggressiveness, which unfortunately cannot find expression in the politics of Africa.
He is more dignified than most presidential candidates, simply put, he is extraordinarily well-mannered.
It is therefore strange that these qualities and presidential values, as they ought to be, in advanced countries, did not have any space in the NPP internal contest here, with the civilising effect of his gentle campaign message to party delegates pushed aside.
The outcome of the NPP August contest, showed clearly that Ghana is still not ready to work with “an approved Saint”.
A reason, Alan’s demeanor allowed his opponents to take over the game, and torpedoed him to the third position through a stealthy, and insidiously powerful political onslaught.
Why Kennedy Ohene Agyapong Emerged Second
For Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, clearly, his actions showed that he wanted to disregard and distance himself from neufeudalists creating bureaucracies that confounded citizens into an inexplicable fear.
He seemed to have seen that as a propitious delay path to our growth and prosperity as a country.
For him, “The sky is vast enough to accommodate or permit the flying artistry or rascality of all and every bird” considering the abundance of natural and human resources available in the country.
Therefore, he believes he could change the narrative to address sectarian fanaticism, or upbeat fundamentalism being engineered and employed by bureaucrats to continue to sink the country, and sing the same song, for Ghana to wallow in an economic dungeon.
The Obvious Decay And Sludge
The nonsense we see around us in this country obviously requires an ironclad hand as a starter for the center to counter the banter
There is so much decline in the salutary values of our pristine culture, human values fostered by the experience and expertise of our past and history.
Unfortunately, the win horse of politics in Ghana, has rendered virtually everything monetary.
The over thirty years foundation upon which the framework for good governance and our democracy was built, is currently under serious threat and appears openly cosmetic these days following the kind of discoveries being made within the architectural setup of government.
The reports of leaders keeping money in their homes, and their workers also stealing them at their blindside, among others, make our current governance structure not just a cosmic framework sojourner of our democracy, but too matrixed along the beliefs of deception, western formulated culture of doing things, and the penchant to continue to inundate our country with strange values, systems including LGBTQ, all being forced down our throats.
The conduct of our leaders today, is just repugnant to natural justice, equity in resource mobilization and distribution, and application of good conscience in the discharge of responsibilities in office.
The grim reality is that the benchmark for assessing quality leadership in Ghana has been given away to whimsical caprice, monetized and westernized through dishonesty backed by acquired foreign policies, tradition, and old and new media.
Through their own narrative, years of planning, colonial projects and programs, and resource control dynamics, western countries see Ghana as one of their havens and resource mobilization hubs.
In Ghana today, there is a certain disconcerting development involving a grinding autocracy or mindless attempt to openly abuse the cherished constitutionally guaranteed freedom to speak, and associate, and to also convey one’s thoughts without being hounded or penalized with court summons.
Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, one of the flag bearers aspirants has demonstrated that he would show courage, confidence, and control not fall for this democratic dictatorship.
Again, Lawyer Martin Kpebu, the constitutional lawyer, is also fighting back threats, despite facing verbal attacks on a daily basis on air for speaking the truth to power
The attitude of President Akufo-Addo, the Ghanaian leader, is however threatening to keep the country’s peace and tranquility at bay in an erstwhile socially ambient political environment.
This, if not stopped by Ghanaians, could one day offer violence in return or an invitation to reactionary terror, employed in the service of evasion of state responsibility.
The Daganli aphorism rendered in infinite wisdom as “Ting Naa Che Baba, Oni-wurim Nachimba” To wit, the chief of a community has shaved his hair, he will definitely disintegrate youth”
We are compelled by degrading circumstances to know in regret, the peaceful political past lost, the prevailing social upheavals we are witnessing, and the economic embarrassment being displayed under President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo’s regime.
The lawlessness of ponzy schemes online and offline being championed by criminal gangs, the sugarcoated policies, and failed promises introduced by the government, are all becoming poisoning streams. All these have triggered, eventually, the hunger and banger of anger among the youth.
The New Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong
Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the unbeatable firebrand, reportedly noted for his devoted public comments, successfully detonated a few political bombs at his showdown rally last week.
He crafted extraordinary stories against a stunning backdrop that picturesque the prevailing political circumstances in the country.
As smart as he always claims, partnering the right people with a high volume of political patronage, has given him the opportunity to organize and mobilize top-tier defensive mechanisms in readiness for all barrages of onslaughts ahead of the November 4th contest
This is not just admirable, laudable, but commendable at this stage, considering the treacherous moves being made by wicked elements to manipulate the NPP internal contest while using power and authority to intimidate and buy the conscience of delegates who form the electoral college.
But, the message of Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong is very clear. He is offering a seamless blend of towering organizational elegance, and using convenient language that delegates of NPP understand to pick on opponents, as he speaks to peak politically, while ensuring that his campaign is not only enchanting, but also effortlessly organized.
Today, each of his attacks, exudes charm, uniquely painting the right and tight picture to the youth, therefore promising him the perfect setting for his presidential dream and leadership of the country.
Every detail of his message is thoughtfully curated to elevate his experience for the mantle ahead.
His deliberate collaborative approach with the business community, the import and exporters at Abossey-Okai, in Accra, and Magazine in Kumasi, has allowed him to customize every aspect of his ambition, therefore leaving his opponents in the dark.
The Role of President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, who ought to be the rallying point for all who believe in the celebration of immanent internal democracy, has rather found a screwed way of handling his personal agenda.
In this circumstance, his agenda could fail or succeed depending on the decision taken by delegates of the NPP on November 4th, 2023.
Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong on the other hand, may not accept any fake results, cheating, or, the politics of attacks, or intimidation on the election day.
He would definitely incite the consciousness of delegates feelings on the day as he did in August, to weigh heavily on oppressors, and aggressors, who might attempt anything silly.
Today, the chances and opportunity of Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong to lead Ghana has not just been brightened but could inspire others to note that in the kind of Western democracy that we practice, hook line, and sinker, irrespective of your past, conduct, and behavior, leadership of the country could knock on your door just as Nana, Rev. Evangelist Agrada, has already declared on social media that she would one day run for President, and announced Afia Schwarzenegger as her running mate, certainly our nation is getting there.
Nothing is safe anymore, nothing would be saved anymore, unless the current crop of politicians learn to selflessly lead for ordinary people, and ordinary people selflessly learn to follow the selfless politician.
The author of this piece is Zambaga Rufai Saminu, a Ghanaian journalist and a social commentator.
