Kufuor and Flagbearer need each other:

Daavi Ama remembers Adu Boahen and his successor

The Statesman

“Now that the world has seen and heard from the galaxy of presidential aspirants of the NPP, the message should be sent out loud and clear that we need to ensure an environment that will allow President Kufuor and whoever is elected to work healthily together for victory in a year’s time.”

Gifty “Daavi Ama” Aryeh, the National Treasurer of the New Patriotic Party, who spoke to The Statesman yesterday, recalled how the late Ferdinand Ayim captured in a report in The Statesman of Weekending June 16, 1996, how Albert Adu Boahen, the 1992 NPP presidential candidate took his successor’s victory in his stride and gave him optimum support.

“The winner will need the President to do for him what the late Prof Emeritus Adu Boahen did for candidate Kufuor when he won in 1996.”
Daavi Ama added, it was crucial that all is done in the next 18 days to create a conducive environment for President and candidate to work hand in hand for the party.

At Sunday’s NPP rally to outdoor the Magnificent 17, President Kufuor pledged to support the choice of delegates as the next flagbearer.
The full news report by Freddie (‘Adu Boahen Lauds Kufuor’) is reproduced below.

Adu Boahen lauds Kufuor

The Statesman, Week ending June 16, 1996

Prof Adu Boahen, the 1992 Presidential candidate of the NPP says that his successor, Mr J A Kufuor, deserved to win the NPP Congress since he is the best among the lot. He has therefore, urged all party members and supporters to rally round him to ensure victory this year.

Delivering an emotional speech at a forum organised by the Legon branch of the NPP in Accra last Wednesday, Prof. Adu Boahen who was given a prolonged standing ovation after his address, pledged his “full and unflinching support to my leader and Presidential candidate.” He pledged his readiness to respond to Mr Kufuor’s call “any day, anytime, anywhere, and also prepared to send him round the whole country if necessary.”

The 1992 flagbearer denied that relations with his successor had soured. He said that the two of them participated in a very healthy democratic exercise in which Mr Kufuor proved “the better man.” He also denied rumours of his intention to leave the country. “How can I leave now when the NDC has so much abused the Constitution and so mismanaged the country?”

Dressed in a white batakari, the eminent historian appealed to all democracy lovers for financial and material support for the NPP, which he said, needs them now more than it did in 1992. He assured that the NPP will soon launch its campaign which will “surely land it in the Castle.”

Praising the sense of humility and spirit of Prof Adu Boahen, Mr Kufuor described the occasion as a historic one, saying it has put to rest the vicious speculations of the detractors of the party. He said that relations between the two of them have been marked more by mutual respect than disdain.

Dressed in a similar white batakari which he explained as being the telepathic link between the two of them, Mr Kufuor said that his mission this year is to grab the “golden fleece” which Prof Adu Boahen set out to pursue in 1992. He likened himself to the Biblical Joshua, and promised to lead the NPP to the “promised land” after Moses (Prof) saw it but could not set foot on it.

The 1996 flagbearer criticised the unbridled liberalisation policy which has turned Ghana into a dumping ground, crippled the industries and compounded the unemployment situation. He catalogued the problems currently besetting the nation and said they are product of the failure of the 15-years of Rawlings’ regime.

Mr Kufuor blamed the present situation on NDC’s policies which it neither believes in nor understands. He, therefore, urged a vote for the NPP which he said, is committed to laying a solid foundation for a genuine economic take-off.

On education, Mr Kufuor criticised the NDC government for presiding over its gradual destruction. This, he said shows the government’s singular lack of vision for education to enable Ghana enter the 20th century in confidence.

He promised that an NPP government, under his Presidency, will consider education as a strategic sector for which massive and long term investments will be made.

Alhaji Issaka Inusah, Campaign Chairman, said that despite nature’s relative over-endowment in the country, the past 15 years of Rawlings’ rule is about to leave the average Ghanaian in a state of fear and poverty.

He urged Ghanaians to use their votes wisely this year to counter the NDC’s use of crude methods and violence. He assured the students of plans to actively involve them in the electoral battle ahead.

Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, NPP Youth leader called for active student involvement in the political development of the nation. He referred to the government’s resort to violence and intimidation as signs of its last throes of power.

Alhaji Alhassan charged students to gird their loins for the task ahead since the NPP is determined to peacefully win power through the ballot box.

Earlier in the welcome address, Mr Akwasi Agyemang, President of the NPP students branch, noted that Ghana is in dire need of leadership which transcend tribal, regional and religious barriers.

He stressed the need for preparedness to match boot for boot, a regime so unpopular and yet unprepared to peacefully give up power as the incident on campus the previous Saturday showed.

Mr Agyemang emphasised the need for opposition alliance to make certain total victory for the forces of democracy in the December general elections.

Prof K K Oduro, a lecturer at the University, chaired the function.