The countdown to any election year starts three years before voting, with internal party elections. These elections start in the main, at constituency, regional and national level.
As you read this piece, potential regional and national candidates have been criss-crossing the country, trying hard to get their supporters elected at the polling station level.
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is in a far better shape, politically than the party they beat in December 7, 2016 elections – the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The NDC, as per the Kwesi Botchway report, has started the manual registration of its supporters.
Today, we focus on the potential candidates for the slot of National Chairman of the NPP.
Mr. Freddie Blay- he is the acting National Chairman of the party. He became acting with the suspension of the elected Chairman, Mr. Paul Afoko. Freddie Blay, a former Member of Parliament (MP) of the Convention Peoples party (CPP), co-operated with the kufuor government in Parliament. He defected formally to the NPP when he lost his parliamentary seat and with the support of persons who are ardent supporters of then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, became the first National First Vice Chairman. His selling points include the fact that he steered the NPP into a massive win over the NDC. He is also seen as a stabilizing factor between the two main factions in the NPP – the Kufuor and Akufo-Addo factions.
Mr. Stephen Ntim – he will be making his fourth attempt to be the National Chairman. He would have won at his last attempt if the votes of the Akufo-Addo faction had not been split between him and another Akufo-Addo candidate, Mr. Fred Oware. One of his main selling points will be that Mr. Ntim has suffered for the party and ‘Ntim has suffered for the party ‘Ntim Abre’ is likely to be his main slogan.
Alhaji Abdul Rahman (aka Alhaji Short) – this is a candidate who is relatively unknown and unless there is actual proof that President Akufo-Addo is backing him is unlikely to make any impact;
Mr. Fred Oware – it is reported that attempts are being made for him to step down and support Mr. Ntim. This is to avoid the situation of him getting potential Ntim votes.
It is early days yet but it looks like as straight one between Stephen Ntim and Freddie Blay.
Source: daily dispatch
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Can he pin the old foxes in the party down?
Iddrissu, Sampa ba. Very excellent analysis. You have taken the wind out of my sail. Steve Ntim has remained loyal to the party and l know delegate will reward him for his hard work and selflessness, Ntim All the way
Stephen Ntim must win this elections. Is CLEAR that he is harmless and truly committed to the course of the elephant family. He genuinely supported Nana Akufo Addo in all elections although he lost in his chairmanship bid. We must reward true party men who understand the spirit, soul and body of our tradition. It is on that score that Nana Akufo Addo is our leader and president of the Republic of Ghana on the ticket of the NPP. We are told Alhaji Abdul-Rahman (Alhaji Short) is a former PNDC CADRE who just joined the party around 2006 and rose on the wings of benevolent persons such as Lawyer Clement Elede, Mark Banda and Ambrose Derry to be NPP regional chairman. Can we guarantee his loyalty and knowledge in the elephant tradition to be our chairman at the national level? Freddie Blay is a CPP man. Whether he defected to our camp or not, there are still traces of Nkrumaism in him. The NPP must be a party seen to be rewarding loyalty and hard work. Yes, there aren't enough evidence that the president is supporting Alhaji Short. But i know our president wont do anything that would divide the front of our party. Our president is intelligent and love our party - the NPP. We are also told Alhaji Short is priding himself in winning 5 constituencies in UW region but we are also told he is a pure Wala tribe man. Why was he unable to win the Wala Central constituency seat in all the three times he superintended over elections in the UW region. After all charity begins at HOME.NTIM MUST BE SUPPORTED TO WIN AND LEAD OUR PARTY TO ANOTHER NPP/AKUFO ADDO VICTORY IN ELECTION 2020. NTIM ALL THE WAY.....