Akufo-Addo Faces Another John

If the long held perception that bearers of the name John are destined to be presidents of Ghana is anything to go by, then the flag bearer of the leading opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has an uphill task to win the December 7, 2012 election. Akufo-Addo, an astute politician by all standards suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of former President John Atta Mills during the 2008 election, deepening the perception that John�s are destined for the seat of government. Since 1992, three Johns: John Jerry Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Atta Mills have occupied the seat. The National Executive Council (NEC) of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), at an emergency meeting set September 1 as the date the party would go for congress to endorse the candidature of President John Dramani Mahama as torch bearer of the party for the December 7, election. �The National Executive Committee at its emergency meeting on the 26th day of July 2012, held at the Institute of Local Government Studies, Accra, in respect of the creation of a vacancy of a flag-bearer of the NDC hereby resolve as follows: A resolution adopted by the NEC members noted: �That a special delegates congress to endorse the leader of the NDC, H.E. John Dramani Mahama as a flag-bearer of the NDC to contest the 2012 Presidential elections in accordance with the due process of the party�s constitution to be conveyed not earlier than 1st September, 2012.� The party has, thus, set September 1 as the official date for the outdooring of Presiding Mahama to lead the NDC in the upcoming election. Barring any last minute change of plans, President Mahama will face Akufo-Addo fo the NPP, Hassan Ayariga of the people�s National Convention, Dr. Abu Sakara of the Convention People�s Party, and Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People�s Party. Some political pundits have argued that President Mahama has the clout to retain the NDC in power due to his broad appeal to floating voters, coupled with the fact that the Northern part of the country will rather have one of their own as President, than a southerner. President Mahama has already been described as the Obama of Ghana due to his youthful nature. Other political observers have on the other hand insisted that Akufo-Addo has for close to two and half years meticulously toured the country and interacted with many Ghanaians to sell his message. He is also seen as very experienced politician and more mature than president Mahama. Present at the meeting were leading NDC executives including national chairman, Kwabena Agyei, the general secretary, Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, Minister of Agric, Kwesi Awhoi and the Attorney General, Benjamin Kumbour. Conspicuously missing was the party�s founder, former President Jerry John Rawlings.