Alan campaigns on ‘John’, his middle name

By. Nana Obeng-Danquah

The bustling Central Region town of Kasoa was painted in a sea of red, blue, and white on Sunday when the New Patriotic Party created a platform to outdoor its seventeen presidential aspirants to party members ahead of the December 22 delegates’ congress.

As The Statesman exclusively published before the rally, the aspirants spoke according to a line up which made Nana Akufo-Addo the first speaker at the well attended rally.

Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, the seventh speaker, in his allotted five minutes, stirred up a jovial controversy by stating that no one can ever be President of Ghana when he has no John attached to his name.

He cited former President Jerry John Rawlings and the incumbent, John Agyekum Kufuor to buttress his point.

Ghana would have been led for 27 out of her 50 years of nationhood by Johns at the end of President Kufuor’s term next year. Interestingly, the NDC flagbearer is a John, Evans Atta Mills, and indications are that his running mate will also be a John, MP for Bole Bamboi John Mahama.

However, Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, who spoke immediately after him, chose to shoot down an argument for John-hood, insisting that not all Johns could be good leaders and that Ghana has had two Johns as presidents, one good and one bad.

“God forbids two Johns,” he declared.

Prof Boateng then turned and asked Nana Akufo-Addo’s forgiveness before saying, “Enough of the ‘I put it to you’”, in apparent reference to his legal background. President Kufuor is a lawyer.

The former CEO of Korle-Bu said the main opposition NDC has a professor as its flagbearer and that he is a taller, braver professor, one of surgery, ready to lead the NPP to victory in 2008 general election.

He promises to apply science and technology to improve on the solid foundation laid by the Kufuor administration.

Taking his turn, Arthur Kobina Kennedy, cautioned party members to be wary of the Johns because there has been one bad leader of the country called John.

“I’m not John or Kufuor, nor a Professor, I’m only a doctor,” he lamented.

He promised to take care of the party foot soldiers if elected as the NPP flagbearer.

Then came Kwame Addo-Kufuor, the eighth speaker and the brother of the current President, who did not take Alan’s comments lightly either. He argued that if the NPP race was all about names, it would have been the easiest of contests for him since he is a Kufuor.

The former Defence Minister reiterated his four major attributes, transparency, visionary leadership, competence, and an understanding of the country’s security needs, which he says set him apart from the others in the race.

Earlier, Nana Akufo-Addo, had reminded the party audience of the 1998 NPP Sunyani delegates congress when he announced his unflinching support for then candidate Agyekum Kufuor as the flagbearer-elect.

He said he expects nothing short of this from his colleague contestants come December 22 when he emerges as the NPP flagbearer.

Nana Addo maintained that the contest is a family affair and pledged to support whoever wins the NPP race.

According to him, Ghana under President Kufuor has moved forward and that he remains the most qualified aspirant to lead the NPP into victory in 2008 polls and urged the delegates to vote him “one touch” at the December 22 congress.

All seventeen aspirants pledged to support whoever emerges flagbearer of party.