FIRST REAL TEST FOR AKUFO ADDO (PAGE 13, AUGUST 26, 2010)

The Upper West regional second vice – chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Hafiz Bin – Salih has said the first real test for the party’s flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo–Addo is for him to pick a credible, competent and attractive running mate from any part of the three northern regions.
Adding his voice to the call on the flag bearer to pick his running mate from any of the three northern regions, he said such a move was critical to the success of the party in the 2012 elections.
According to Mr Bin-Salih, voters in the recent NPP presidential primaries exhibited their commitment and confidence in Nana Akufo – Addo, hence he must put in place the right mechanisms to win the 2012 elections.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Wa, Mr Bin – Salih, said the call by some members of the party on the flag bearer to pick somebody from the south to partner him would be disastrous as there was already the perception that the party is Akan biased.
“Aside of this, the NPP has been improving in its fortunes in northern Ghana and that this could be traced to the fact that “the north often has a representative on the presidential ticket which attracts northern voters,” he added.
He argued that religion should not be a factor when considering the choice of a running mate from the north because northern voters did not take into consideration the religious affiliation but somebody with a track record.
“My humble suggestion to Nana is that his choice should be a person with some amount of parliamentary experience as that person has a constituency both within and outside the party,” he said.
Mr Bin – Salih called for a broader consultation from stakeholders of the party in the north, namely the executive, elders and members of parliament before the running mate was picked.