Kofi Agyepong
14 August 2008
The name was supposed to be kept under wraps, at least, until the weekend when the presidential candidate himself would reveal it, but the "okro mouths" in the NPP system started sharing confidences with the wrong people and by yesterday, it had become an open secret!
After months, weeks of speculation one name seems to have finally met with the approval of the NPP presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo. Many commentaries on Accra FM stations had zeroed in on the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia as the candidate's most likely running mate and already reactions to that had started pouring in.
Nana would this morning be presenting his name to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party for approval which ADM party sources have revealed would not be rejected by NEC, but his party membership status would come under intense scrutiny and perhaps lead to some embarrassing questions.
A very ardent supporter of Dr. Bawumia, one of the Okai Koi North NPP stalwarts, called the ADM office and announced simply: "It's him." He said, "Nana would not choose anyone who is not from the NPP.
I am an NPP man and I know Dr Bawumia is part of us" Dr. Bawumia's nomination, if confirmed, would not come as a shock to many people, because his name has been hogging the media headlines for a while, but may shock some NPP members whose acquaintance with him in their party's scheme of affairs is not efiri tete.
One of the most vocal members of the NPP, the MP for Assin North, Mr. Kennedy Agyapong in a fit of political pique told a local radio station that, "I would not campaign again for Nana if he chooses Bawumia. We want a true party man" Almost daring his party's presidential candidate he sneered, "Let Bawumia go and campaign in the Central Region."
It looks therefore like the NPP's choice of running mate has become a jinxed affair with almost all the names that have surfaced so far being pulled down by people with different gripes. The indomitable Daavi Ama, National Treasurer of the NPP yesterday told ADM that "It's still speculation." When asked if the speculation turned out to be the truth, she said, "We have come a long way so we would accept."
ADM: Do you think Dr. Bawumia is good for the party?
Daavi Ama: I'm not a hypocrite. I have not met him or spoken to him before, so I can't comment on him.
Daavi Ama, however said, the final decision would be made today Thursday August 14. She told ADM that she knows "Nana is a listening type; if he has to change he would do that." Because of his listening nature, she said, "I doff my heart out for him. He is a darling boy."
Daavi Ama was an ardent supporter of the late Professor Adu Boahen and in the NPP presidential primaries last rooted for Vice President Aliu Mahama. She told ADM that the best decision ever to be made by the NPP was when President Kufuor chose Alhaji Aliu Mahama as his running mate.
Though Daavi Ama insisted Dr. Bawumia's name is still speculation, she said if Bawumia would be like Aliu, then, "It's ok." She explained: "Alhaji Aliu is the best thing to happen to the party and if he is going to do the work of Aliu, he has to understudy him before he can be like him.
Kufuor's legacy, she said, "would never be complete without the role of Aliu." Bawumia or no Bawumia, she said, the running mate would not have any major impact on the campaign, because "We are wining already... We are going to win hands down."
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