The clear indication this week that Nana Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), candidate for 2008, 2012 general elections, has not hung his political boots is sure to throw plans of the strong anti-Akufo-Addo faction in the party into disarray.
The news was clearly released by the immediate Past Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, who says he expects his famous cousin to run for the third time in 2016.
Gabby stated that Nana Addo is “more likely than not” to contest for that position again.
This announcement, coming shortly after Nana Addo’s rivals in the party had taken his taking-a-break-from politics announcement to mean he was quitting politics, means plans of those who wanted to take over the party from Nana Addo and his allies are in jeopardy.
A number of these individuals, who associated themselves with the Alan Kyerematen bid for the NPP’s presidential slot, have been rather quiet in the last four years, but suddenly appeared to have resurrected after Nana Addo’s break-from-politics announcement.
Individuals such as President Kufuor’s aide, Mr. Paul Afoko, recently resurfaced on the political scene to announce his interest in going for the party chairmanship position.
A balloon was recently floated proposing Dr. Richard Anane, former Health and Transport Minister and a Member of Parliament as a good candidate for the NPP presidential slot.
Dr. Anane was firmly in Mr. Kyeremateng’s camp in the 2008 NPP presidential primaries.
The struggle for power in the meantime will be fought in the many internal party elections, starting from the polling station level right up to the presidential.
Political observers say Nana Addo is the overall favorite, but rivals see his age, as well as the loss at the Supreme Court as the aces in the attempt to displace him before 2016.
