The upcoming presidential primary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is an opportunity for the elephant family to neutralise their branding, according to a former Communications Director of the party, Nana Akomea.
The man heading communications for the Bawumia Campaign says the ‘Akan Party’ tag given the NPP by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been accepted by a section of Ghanaians to some extent, and voting Dr. Bawumia as its flagbearer for the 2024 elections would erase that perception.
Nana Akomea says the tag has affected the party in some instances even though the NPP has accommodated all manner of people irrespective of their background.
He says it is time to prove to Ghanaians and especially the NDC that someone who is not an Akan can become flagbearer of the NPP.
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“You know, the NPP, we’ve always suffered from a certain branding from our opponents. Every election after election, they repeat that branding. And the branding is that ‘ah, this is an Akan party. If you are not Akan, you can’t be their leader’. So, in Dr Bawumia, we have a good chance to neutralise the branding of the party,” he said on Accra-based JoyNews.
He asserted it was an opportunity for them to prevent other political parties of campaigning against them with the ‘Akan party’ tag.
The former Employment Minister explained that this would also put a stop to the propaganda from opposition parties who campaign against the NPP with the ‘Akan party’ tag.
Asking that the leadership prowess of Dr. Bawumia be put aside, Nana Akomea said presenting a winnable candidate is a priority the party shouldn’t look down on.
“Now, you have a candidate like Dr Baumia, who would give you a more inclusive branding and would neutralize the NDC’s propaganda. We have the tool in our hands to change that branding and that is Dr Bawumia,” he added.
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Indicating that the NPP has neutralised the Northern region as an NDC stronghold, he noted the party can use him to get votes from people who have voted against the NPP based on the ethnic tag.
“Before he came, we were not getting those votes. We believe that if we present him as a presidential candidate, he would, of all the candidates, further the weakening of the Northern region as a major stronghold of the NDC,” he stated.
Bawumia has also proven himself through his contribution in the 2012 election petition and also with his quota on implementing various policies of the government according to Nana Akomea.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is one of the 10 persons aspiring to lead the NPP in the 2024 elections as its flagbearer. Key contestants he is competing in the race with include former Trade and Industry minister, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen and Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a member of Parliament for Assin Central.
A super delegates conference is going to be held on August 26 to sieve the number to 5 before the national conference takes place in November.
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