While many Ghanaians including respected entrepreneur, Alhaji Dr Asuma Banda; award winning actor John Dumelo and multiple NPP flag bearer aspirant, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen among others are casting doubts over an Akufo-Addo presidency after the November 7 general elections, present happenings in the country and within the ruling National Democratic Congress signal otherwise.
Perhaps, prophecies by founder and leader of Glorious Word Ministry International, Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, some men of God and seers that the 2016 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akfu Addo could supplant NDC’s John Mahama in the November President polls if he keeps faith with God are what are beginning to manifest.
Even though the NPP in its present state under the watch of Nana Akufo-Addo looks fractured and has proven so far not ready to win back power, simmering tension and bickering among the leadership of the ruling NDC and amongst the rank and file shows signs of a possible change in government after the next presidential election in November this year.
That, power is gradually slipping through the hands of the NDC as observed by NDC founder and former President, Jerry John Rawlings, is no longer news, as all the signs that caused the defeat of NPP in the 2008 and the “downfall” of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s government in Nigeria are visible and has found its way into the ruling party.
Events leading to the 2008 elections where assets grabbing leading members of the NPP led to the surfacing of 17 arrogant aspirants hacking each other over who succeeds then outgoing President John Agyekum Kufuor, leading to the present internecine turf war among bigwigs of the party is currently, the state of the NDC.
Aside this dangerous happening in a party that has made remarkable strides in the provision of infrastructure and giant and audacious moves at restructuring a colonial economy; appointee arrogance, complacency, sheer incompetence, needless scandals and power struggle as was witnessed in the last days of NPP in power, are now the second name of the Mahama-led NDC government.
While the NPP government at the time, just as the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was confident of victory despite the blots on their respective administrations’ image, they mistook the ‘silence’ and inaction of the populace as having faith in their regimes.
Apparently, and unknown to them, the electorates in Ghana and Nigeria had already decided on what to do on Election Day but kept their cool and allowed the Kufuor and Jonathan governments to basked in the false hopes of retaining power.
Ironically, with barely ten months to elect the next President of Ghana, these regrettable circumstances and signs are noticeable within the NDC administration, and like NPP government under Kufuor, most bigwigs have shrugged off the possibility of handing over to Nana Akufo-Addo due to his present conditions.
However, some political observers are warning, the NDC may be in for a shocker if the party does not take immediate steps to nib these opposition bound happenings in the bud.
According to one of them who spoke to The aL-hAJJ on strict condition of anonymity, the NDC may have itself to blame especially, when the NPP decides to change its ageing 2016 flag bearer with a much younger, energetic and credible candidate.
What other political watchers say portends danger to the NDC government is that, in spite of all the visible signs showing the party is likely to hand over power on a silver platter to the NPP despite its present ‘messy’ state, some leading members and supporters of the party have become complacent and are basking in glory over the twice defeated presidential candidate’s bruised public image and the division in his party.
Flashing the hazard lights that all was not well within the NDC, a deputy General Secretary of the party, Koku Anyidoho recently sparked another wave of resentment in the party when he publicly announced that the National Executive Committee have decided to take over the 2016 campaign of the party from the Presidency.
Koku Anyidoho, who said the decision has been sanctioned by the leadership of the NDC, warned that anybody at the presidency who dares to hijack the 2016 campaign would be “crashed’ and “shown his smoothness level.
Adding, “Ghanaians are already angry…people are expressing legitimate concerns so we must be seen doing things in a modest way. Those who are planning to put up electronic billboards for the president are warned to desist from it. The party will take over the 2016 campaign and manage it.”
Before this, deputy National Organizer of the party, Joshua Akamba, took on persons he described as “greedy big men” within the Mahama administration who were taking sumptuous contracts and resources and left the youth of the party to “rot” in their joblessness and poverty.
Speaking recently at a program organized by the Oforikrom Youth wing of the NDC in Kumasi, Joshua Akamba said “the sad part of it is that you sit down and watch while so called big men take money and contracts that should come to you. They are greedy people and what they take is taken on your behalf.”
What is threatening the chances of the party the more is that, the bitterness and bickering among the heavyweights in the party is gradually finding its way into the grassroots of the party with almost every NDC member lamenting over neglect and/or dissatisfaction
While others are said to have resigned themselves to faith and are unwilling to campaign for the party let alone vote for it in the November 7 elections, others are reported to have vowed, they will vote NPP.
The aL-hAJJ has gathered that some leading lights of the NPP are cashing in on these developments in the NDC and are baiting some known and influential grass root members of the ruling party with money and other inducements to turn away from their party.
Strangely, in spite of these negative developments affecting the ruling party which obviously point to its likely exit from power, the likes of Dr Alhaji Asuma Banda, John Dumelo, Alan Kyeremanten and others have served notice the candidate of the largest opposition party, Nana Akufo-Addo cannot win the 2016 presidential polls.
Speaking on Accra based television station, TV3, Alhaji Asuma Banda; the Chief Executive of Anthrak Air said Nana Akufo-Addo can “never be President of Ghana”
“The truth is he [Nana Akufo-Addo] can never be president… You see, to be a President, you must have certain structure, intelligence,” he told Kwesi Pratt Junior in a teaser of the yet-to-be televised show,” he noted.
Prior to Dr Alhaji Asuma Banda’s observations, failed flag bearer aspirants of the NPP, Alan Kyeremanten in an interaction with the party’s New York chapter in 2014 said the party will lose the 2016 election if Nana Akufo-Addo was fielded as its flagbearer.
“I want to be very upfront…I think that we have our own senior brother, Nana Akufo Addo. He’s represented the party very well on two previous occasions. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, it’s not been possible for us to get into power. I think that we must explore other opportunities and that is why I will be putting myself up as a candidate when the nominations open and I am here to seek your support,” he stated.
On his part, famous actor, John Dumelo also said the twice defeated presidential candidate will lose the 2016 general election.
“I have nothing against Nana Addo but I only see one person being sworn in come January 2017 and it’s not him (Nana),” Dumelo tweeted
But founder of NDC, former President Jerry John Rawlings disagreed. Perhaps, the NDC founder and the longest serving Head of State of Ghana’s prediction of NDC losing the 2016 election may this time round come to pass when he told Citi Fm last weekend that the John Mahama government was on its way out.
Stay tuned.
