<<Print>>

Even before calm returns to the New Patriotic Party following suspension of its National Chairman, Paul Afoko, another wave of resentment is just about to explode in the biggest opposition party; this time between its 2016 flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo and his twice running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on one hand, and failed National Chairman aspirant, Stephen Ayensu Ntim, on the other.

Credible reports reaching this paper indicate that Nana Akufo-Addo’s previously cozy dalliance with his serial running mate has in recent time gone sour following attempts by the former deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana to instigate influential members of the party’s Nasara Club to bring pressure to bear on the twice defeated presidential candidate to stand down for him (Bawumia), going into the 2016 polls.

The case of Stephen Ntim is not too different from Dr Bawumia, as party sources say Nana Akufo-Addo has reneged on an earlier promise he made to him (Ntim) to make him his campaign manager for the 2016 elections.

Deep throat sources say the multiple national chairmanship aspirant is facing similar treatment from Nana Akufo-Addo who promised him the 2016 campaign manager post after losing the national chairman election in Tamale, but likely to be painfully dumped for Peter Mac Manu.

Latest reports indicate that the former National Chairman of the NPP was likely to be nominated within the next 12weeks as the person to lead Akufo Addo’s 2016 campaign.

In the case of Dr Bawumia, The aL-hAJJ has gathered that the astute banker-turned-politician was caught on tape goading some senior members of the NPP of Northern descent to put pressure on Nana Akufo-Addo to stick to promises he made to him (Bawumia) to relinquish the flag bearer slot to him ahead of the 2016 elections.

Unfortunately for the twice unlucky vice presidential contender, while he was advising his colleague Nasara members on what to do to make him flag bearer, one of them, an Akufo Addo loyalist, was said to have recorded all that he (Bawumua) said and presented it to Nana Akufo-Addo.

This, according to sources close to the NPP flag bearer, has infuriated Nana Akufo-Addo whose relationship with his once darling “economic wizard” is said to be anything but cold. A source told The aL-hAJJ that Dr. Bawumia has also since been avoiding his once upon a time mentor and that, he is even threatening to pull out as Nana Akufo Addo’s running mate for the 2016.

Apparently, having earlier been advised by his wife, Rebecca and personal physicians, both in Ghana and abroad, not to risk his life to contest the 2016 elections, Nana Akufo Addo, ignored those wise counseling and went ahead to contest the NPP flag bearer slot which he won with a landslide, but promised to relinquish the flagbearer post later to Dr Bawumia.

In order to let Dr Bawumia believe this was going to happened, the former deputy Governor of the Central Bank was hastily nominated after Nana Akufo-Addo’s massive victory at the flag bearer contest, and he has since been given several platforms to warm his way into the hearts of NPP supporters.

However, following recent controversies involving Nana Akufo-Addo and some party top guns, coupled with his noticeable not too good health, resulting in many NPP members calling on him to resign as flag bearer, Dr Bawumia, sources say, believed it was an opportune time for his boss to make good his promise.

While Nana Akufo-Addo is said to be peeved his protégé is becoming impatient and expecting him to handover the coveted post to him, Dr Bawumia, on the other hand is also said to be disappointed in his boss’ decision to renege on his earlier promise to allow him to lead NPP into 2016 elections.

He is reported blaming the situation on hardliners surrounding Nana Akufo-Addo whom he said are encouraging him to go ahead and contest the 2016 elections despite his poor health as it is evident at many public functions where he is always almost caught napping particularly, the latest that happened at the 15th anniversary of TESCON at the Mensah Sarbah Hall of the University of Ghana.

When asked why the two senior members of the NPP are often seen together at a public functions if indeed there is a rift, a party insider who pleaded anonymity told this paper, “it’s just photo opportunity to show there unity, especially in view of the recent ‘Afoko debacle’, but I can tell you that deep down the hearts of the two men, there is serious resentment”.

Stephen Ntim on his part, according a source close to him, “has resigned himself to fate” in spite of the fact he feels disappointed too.