<<Print>>The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is going akin to the dreaded tsunami, as far as the search for a campaign manager for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the twice-defected Presidential candidate, who is seeking a third time opportunity, is concerned.
The party as an entity is not in favor of some of the names that have emerged as the likely person to lead the Nana Addo 2016 electioneering campaign. Persons closer to Nana Addo, including the acclaimed ‘Akyem Mafia’ are also not support of some of the names the party is suggesting to the candidate.
The situation has led to infighting, rancour and mudslinging in the party.
Names that have so far come up for the campaign manager position include Mr. Dan Kwaku Botwe, Member of Parliament for Okere Constituency and Formal General Secretary of the party, Mr. Boakye Agyarko, Nana Addo’s Campaign Manager in 2012, and Mr. John Boadu, National Organizer of the party.
Interestingly, Mr. Botwe, whose name was flying high among the lot, has made it clear that he was not keen on taking up that particular position.
His decline shocked many NPP insiders because his prowess in organization at the grassroots level is legendary.
Before coming public to claim that he was not interested in the position, there was a damning article about Mr. Botwe (Dan Botwe Is A Myth) on Ghanaweb, which was sourced to one Nyaho Tamakloe.
That article created lots of anxiety within the NPP, with some high-ranking personalities pointing accusing fingers at the Akyem Mafia’ as being behind that ‘dirty’ publication.
Now there is disagreement as to whether it was important to have a campaign manager at all for the 2016 elections.
Party insiders told the Enquirer some heaveyweights are pushing for a campaign team without a manager, but rather a central coordinating member with rich political experience.
The insiders have it that the candidate himself, Nana Addo, is confused as to whom to appoint to be his campaign manager or the form the team should take.
Amazingly, The Enquirer is reliably informed that the candidate constantly receives emissaries who go to him to either lobby for somebody or to run somebody down.
However, The Enquirer has learnt that Nana Addo has had cause not to speak to some of the emissaries after getting to know of their mission.
The Enquirer has gathered that there is also the issue of whether Nana Addo would be allowed to run his campaign outside the NPP headquarters or not.
In 2008 and 2012, the candidate had different office for his campaign.
In fact, there were issues of how some elderly and experienced persons had to fall on some not-too-much of weight persons for campaign materials.
Again, persons who wanted to contribute towards Nana Addo’s campaign were confused as to where to go and whom to talk to.
With such confused arrangement, it was widely believed that some persons pocked some contributions.