Since December 10 when the Electoral Commission declared Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo as the victor many Ghanaians particularly NDC sympathizers have not been able to come to terms with the results. Lots of NDC sympathizers are saying that Nana Addo did not win but rather John Mahama’s vote rather reduced. In other words Nana Addo won on account of Lower turnout by NDC supporters. I have already discussed the internal reasons why JM lost in a previous article. I will limit myself to why Nana Addo won and the external reasons why JM lost.
In 2007, Nana Addo emerged as the victor in a heavily contested presidential primaries which saw 17 aspirants including all the heavyweights in the NPP like Alan Kyerematen, Aliu Mahama (vice president), Konandu Apraku, Dan Botwe, etc. Though he couldn’t win one touch the gap between him and his closest rival was so huge it made a run off needless. Since then, the only face known by Ghanaians as the face of the NPP has always been Nana Addo.
His continued defeats in 2008 and 2012 by Prof Mills and Mahama made his opponents labeled him as a serial loser, unfit for presidency, a ‘sleeper’ and one who could not gain more than 49% in an election. I must add that Nana Addo’s previous history did not help him either. His public utterances such as ‘yen Akanfuo’ (we the Akans) which was extremely tribalistic worked against him. Wikileaks published rather damning story about Nana Addo being a ‘weed smoker’. He was portrayed as a person with a violent and arrogant persona. Rightly or wrongly Nana Addo could not refute these allegations which hanged around his neck from 2008 when he contested the presidency for the first time.
What changed in the 2016 elections? Despite deep cracks in the NPP going into the election Nana Addo won a famous victory ( 53.85%) . The NPP had sacked its General Secretary ( Kwabena Agyepong), National Chairman (Paul Afoko) , Vice Chairman ( Crabbe) and many other Constituency executives across the country yet it won.
THE INCLUSION OF ALAN KYEREMATEN in the NPP campaign and his active participation in the campaign gave a semblance of unity. The sacked executives were seen as working for Alan Kyerematen. Once Alan Kyerematen was seen campaigning along Nana Addo, it cured the perception of NPP internal disunity. Nana Addo deserves some credit for bringing Alan Kyerematen onboard.
DR BAWUMIAH AND HIS WIFE did the damage for Nana Addo. Bawumiah was a different Bawumiah altogether in this election. He changed from Dr Bawumiah to Dr ‘Bawuliar’ and his half truths and pure propaganda inured to the the benefit of the NPP. It was widely expected that Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur ( running mate to JM) would respond to Bawumiah. Rather disappointedly, he didn’t. On one occasion on a campaign platform the Veep said he was advised not to respond to Bawumiah. Then at the NDC final rally at Greater Accra Sports Stadium, the Veep in a rather awkward manner attempted to respond to Bawumiah. He claimed the so called 180 questions by Bawumiah were not all questions. Some were statements. Lol! Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur’s Nationwide campaign was seen by many NDC supporters as something which did not make any impact. Some say he even lost his constituency.
Bawumiah was the man. He had sharp tongue, his message was cutting and his presentation on every platform was excellent. It is not surprising that JM at some point decided to respond or attack Bawumiah. His Veep was not helpful hence his decision to do it all by himself. Samira deserves an applause. Just like Bawumiah Samira was too delight to watch. She had same throat cutting message. At some point a section of NDC social media activists went tribal against her calling her a Fulani alien girl who had no right to criticise JM. Such a rhetoric did a great disservice to the NDC which has always touted itself as a mass party which cared less about tribes.
NANA ADDO’S CAMPAIGN MESSAGE WAS MORE INSPIRING THAN JM’S AND COULD EASILY BE REMEMBERED.
Even as an NDC communicator, I still can’t remember what my party promised. All our concentration was on government achievements and monumental projects. Nana Addo promised jobs (1 district 1 factory) , free shs, reduced taxes and utility tariffs and reinstate teacher/nurses training allowances. JM on the other hand vowed to go down rather than restore such allowances. When the president was reported to have been booed by nursing trainees in the Northern Region he quickly restored abated the nurses allowance (GH C150 instead of GHC350). Even after this, the nurses trainees were seen agitating for full allowance. It was Akufo Addo who gave them hope. A hope that life would be better for them under his administration and they voted massively for him.
THE THREE MONTHS SALARY PAY POLICY WAS SIMPLY AN INSULT TO THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS.
As an NDC activist, my own wife was a victim. She was posted to work as a Nursing Officer at a hospital. Though she worked for 17 months, she only got paid for 3 months only. It was not easy at all. I can imagine people who had worked for two or three years only to receive 3 months salary. The middle class who are the engine of every country turned their back on the NDC. To make things worse, The president was heard on one of his speeches that the party had prevailed on him to sack his finance minister but he had decided to maintain him. another suicide!
DUMSOR DUMSOR AND HIGH UTILITY TARIFFS dealt a heavy blow to JM’s economic achievements. Almost 3 years of interrupted power supply collapsed many industries that depended on electricity. Many Ghanaians could not sleep comfortably due to excessive heat in their rooms. This is something which affected people directly. To make things worse, Ghanaians were slapped with high utility tariffs. We were told 60% increment yet practically, we paid thrice more than before. Every one else both employed and unemployed were expected to pay. The president said Ghanaians should bear the hardship for now and enjoy in his second term. Wrong move! Nana Addo promised to reduce the tariffs. He gave hope to the poor Ghanaian. The president thought Ghanaians would understand decision and as patriotic as they are vote for him. A hungry stomach see no common sense. Stomach first!
POLITICALLY INCORRECT LANGUAGE BY MAHAMA ANGERED HIS OWN SUPPORTERS AND FLOATING VOTERS.
The use of the dead goat syndrome, yentie obiaa, only former presidents can criticise me, I will never restore trainees allowances, etc angered people. JM appeared insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians.
NANA ADDO’S ATTITUDE WAS POSITIVE.
This time he appeared sober. Even when JM accused him of sleeping as a reason for not seeing his good works on one of his travels, Nana responded ‘ ose na ma da nti a ma nhu no. Yoo ma te (he said I didn’t see his good works because I was asleep. I have heard). One would have expected Nana Addo to descend heavily on the president but he chose moderation.
All the bad, the worse and the ugly sum up NDC’s defeat. I do not think Rawlings should be blamed at all. I think he should be excused. JM understands that. Konadu’s participation made it impossible for him to campaign for JM. In my opinion, president Mahama managed the country so well considering his monumental projects which are visible everywhere, but he failed to manage the emotions, anger and frustrations of Ghanaians and his own supporters which resulted in his fall. The results is a clear disapproval of the status quo.
There are accusations that some of the cash meant to assist in the campaign in the dire hours of the campaign by some NDC executives was SAT ON. some of the cash is still being shared (alleged) Such executives deserve to be TO BE KEPT AWAY.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s 2016 election victory was a well deserved victory. He worked all his life for it. He was born for it.