Alan Kyeremanten Losing Grounds

Reports reaching the political desk of the Chronicle newspaper, about the ongoing New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency elections, indicate that the 2008 presidential candidate of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is fast gaining the upper hand, as most of his perceived supporters are winning more key positions, whilst his rival, Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, is fast losing ground.

A party source, who spoke to this paper, said if the current trend continues, Nana Addo would easily win the presidential primary, to become the presidential candidate for the party once again.

The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya in the Greater Accra Region, Professor Mike Oquaye, also a strong Nana Addo supporter, has done a lot of underground work in Accra, leading to most of Nana’s ‘men’ winning key positions. In the Ayawso West Wuogon constituency, for instance, Mr. John Twumasi, the former constituency secretary, also a fan of Nana Addo, beat Daniel Robert Offei by 191 votes to 158, to emerge the new chairman.

The former women’s organizer, popularly known as Grace, has moved from her women’s organizer, to constituency organizer, by beating a known Alan supporter, Mr. Obeng Mensah, as she becomes the constituency’s new organizer.

The situation did not look any better at Ayawso East for Mr. Kyeremanten, where supporters of the former flagbearer, seem to be commanding nine out of the ten executive positions elected. In the chairmanship contest, Mr. Rashid Kata, a well-known supporter of Nana Akufo Addo, beat Mr. Mohammed Adam, also a well known Alan Kyeremanten supporter.

Aside the assistant secretary position, which went to a popular radio caller and Alan Kyeremanten supporter, Ms. Farida, the remaining positions went to persons perceived to favour the candidacy of the 2008 party’s flagbearer. With 343 votes, Mr. Ibrahim Issa, also known as Wumbi, beat Ms. Mariama Adama to emerge as the constituency’s First Vice Chairman, while Adams Salifu Abudul emerged secretary with 520 votes.

The Chronicle can report that results from the Akrofuom constituency in the Ashanti Region, perceived to be Mr. Kyeremanten’s stronghold, have turned in favour of Nana Addo, as his perceived candidates swept all the key positions. Mr. Baffour Awuah beat Mr. Antwi, the constituency’s former first vice chairman, while Mr. Abu Safo emerged the new first vice chairman, with Isaac Boney picking up the second vice chairmanship position.

Mr. Emmanuel Amoafah emerged the constituency organizer, just as Morris Wood took the position of secretary, as assistant secretary went to Ankamahene Gyekye. Akosua Nyaniba picked the women’s organizer position, while Jacob Nyantekyi took the position of constituency youth organizer, with Nicholas Wereko Brobbey emerging treasurer. All these newly-elected officers are seen as strong supporters of Nana Akufo Addo, Akrofuom has Mr. Appiah Pinkrah as its MP. Also in the Ashanti Region, another perceived Nana Akufo Addo supporter, Mr. Benjamin Oduro Frimpong, has become Atwima Kwanwoma’s constituency chairman, with MR. Ampofo Yeboah and Emmanuel Asamoah Boateng emerging first and second vice chairman respectively, in the same constituency.

A similar trend seems to be emerging in the Easter Region, where Nana’s men have won almost all positions in the New Juaben Northern constituency, where Mr. Hackman Kwame Owusu-Agyemang, a pro-Akufo-Addo man, presides as MP. The former Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Agyei Boateng, beat Mr. Owusu Ano, a brother to Dr. Ano and close confidant of Alan Kyeremanten, to emerge the new constituency chairman. Though the newly-elected Effutu-Awutu constituency executives in the Central Region are not known to belong to any of the factions, all of them are pro-Alex Markin, the Presiding Member for the Effutu Municipal Assembly, a known loyalist of Nana Addo.

At the Manhyia Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Nana Addo’s ardent supporter, Mr. Osei Mensah, again emerged chairman. As the elections in various constituencies would eventually reflect in the presidential primaries, The Chronicle can confidently report that Nana Addo is clearly in the lead, unless something dramatic happens.

Source: The Chronicle