By Abdul Razak Bawa
Asante are a matrilineal society where line of descent is traced through the female. Historically, this mother progeny relationship determined land rights, inheritance of property, offices and titles.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride – that is a Scottish proverb which implies that if yearning could make things happen, then even the most impoverished people would have everything they craved.
Alan Kyeremanten since 2007, has not hidden his intention to be the president of this country, after former Presiddent John Agyekum Kufuor, chose him as his successor, despite the unflinching loyalty and support of he enjoyed from his then vice-president, Alhaji Aliu Mahama.
Since the unholy decision, Alan has not relented, as though it is his birthright to be the president of Ghana at all cost.
He started with Alan Cash, as at 2007, he enjoyed the support of the system and so had money to spread. In 2023, the slogan has changed from Alan Cash to Aduro Wusu, to wit, it has reached your turn.
Alan Kyeremanten and his supporters have failed to come up with a Unique Selling Proposition for man, like Akufo-Addo, claims he has bided his time and so deserve the nod to lead the New Patriotic Party.
Ghanaians in 2016 made the biggest mistake by electing Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on a simple reason that, having been in the forefront of politics in this country since the 70’s, he understood the pulse of the nation and knew exactly what needs to be done to turn the fortunes of the county.
Six years after that mistake, Ghanaians have regretted not only for voting for him, but for reversing the gains made by his predecessors.
Alan is also coming on the same premise. The NPP delegates should elect him as their flagbearer and Ghanaians should elect him as their president because Aduro Nisu, to wit it has reached his turn.
Another card that Alan is waging is the fact that he is Ashanti and comes from the Ashanti region. Since the inception of the Fourth Republic, Ashanti region, has been the ‘World Bank’ of the New Patriotic Party. The party has since 1992, won most of its votes from there, so it is only logical for a contestant to make claims of hailing from that region.
Former president John Agyekum Kufuor is a full blooded Ashanti, both parent hailed from the region, he did not need to prove his lineage to anyone and didn’t even use it in his campaign to lead the party.
The tradition of the NPP, has been built around tribalism, with some minority but significant tribes seen as not fit to lead the party. This assertion has continued to hold the party down since 1992.
This has also made the NPP completely unattractive to other tribes that feel unwelcome by the party.
The members who are predominantly Akans have preferred to keep other tribes far from leadership positions. They are completely irrelevant when they are to stand and be counted. They are at best regarded as second class citizens, who are hewers of wood and drawers of water.
The question to ask is, what has been Alan Kyerematen’s contribution to the NPP to catapult himself as the best candidate to lead the NPP both in 2007 and now, except to say he is an Akan.
Interestingly, as I have mentioned above this would not the first time Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten is presenting himself to the delegates of his party to be elected to lead them into an election, so nothing significant about him that has changed since he first made the attempt, except this time aside the Aduro Wusu, he is playing the tribal and religious card.
Alan Kyeremanten’s political network is abysmally limited. As I have always said, he is the creation of former President John Agyekum Kufuor and does not matter to the hoi polloi. But he is a decent man, except he is not cut for the presidency. If only wishes were horses, Alan Kyeremanten would ride them to the presidency. Sadly, they are not.
Only Ashantis vote cannot make Alan president. He needs first the votes of NPP delegates from across the country. And if by some twist of kismet, he becomes the NPP presidential candidate, he needs the votes of all Ghanaians, particularly the north. His supporters are perhaps too self-absorbed or utterly ignorant to understand that belching ethnic slurs against other Ghanaians, because they are not so taken in by Alan is actually demarketing his candidature.
Alan Kyeremanten’s supporters may think they are aggressively promoting him, but they have only succeeded in reducing him to an ethnic champion.
Let’s be clear: a mirror can reflect the sun and direct its rays to a desired target. But the mirror is not the sun; neither does it generate any heat or light. All it takes to render the mirror impotent is for the sun to go to bed. If there is darkness all around, what can the mirror reflect?
In a country yearning for true patriots and visionary leaders, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten does not stand out as a beacon of hope.
Email: razakbawa@gmail.com
