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Press Release
Office of Alan Kyerematen
September 18, 2014
John Alan Kyerematen-
the man to rescue our votes in Central Region -
GRASSROOTS FOR POWER (GRAFOP)
It is very disturbing to watch leaders of our great
Party tread on grounds that are sure to keep us in
opposition after the 2016 elections. Sadly, they
fail to draw lessons from mistakes that led to our
defeats in 2008 and 2012.
Following the pattern of voting in the Central
Region, it appears the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is
looking at another loss in a place that has once
helped bring us to power, if it presents Nana
Akufo-Addo as its Presidential Candidate for 2016.
Research shows that votes from the Region are
affected by three major elements, which are the
people's perception of a candidate's competence and
character; ethnic and cultural ties to the Region
and a candidate's looks.
In the year 2000's General Election, the Region
voted based on perception and looks. They perceived
the then candidate Kufuor as more humble than
candidate Mills because candidate Mills was
associated with Former President Rawlings. They
moreover saw Mr. Kufuor to be more appealing in
appearance than Prof. Mills and this resulted in Mr.
Kufuor securing 49.68 per cent against Prof. Mills'
43.73 per cent of the total valid votes from the
region, in the first round of the polls, and 60.25
per cent against 39.75 per cent, respectively, in
the second round. A similar result was reached four
years later when in the 2004 General Elections Mr.
Kufuor led with 59.00 per cent and Prof. Mills had
39.21 per cent of the votes.
After the 2008 General Elections, it became evident
that the goodwill of the people of the region, which
the party enjoyed, was no more. It had ceased
because we chose to present a candidate who fell
short of the people's expectations. The region voted
for Prof. Mills, who they perceived to be humble
compared to Nana Akufo-Addo. The people also found
Nana Akufo-Addo's posturing as one against their
kind and due to the comments of Maame Dokono, they
then adopted the 'Adze wo fie oye' catchword. This
resulted in Prof. Mills securing 50.58 per cent as
against Nana Akufo-Addo's 45.97 per cent of valid
votes in the first round, and 53.80 per cent against
46.20 percent, respectively, in the run-off
election.
In 2012 the situation worsened. All three elements
worked massively against the NPP. President John
Mahama was seen as more humble, compared to Nana
Akufo-Addo. The cultural identity card was played on
Mr Amissah Arthur and President Mahama was seen more
to be appealing in looks and stature than Nana Addo.
The proof of this is the result of the General
Election where President Mahama got 52.12 per cent
after just three months of campaigning and Nana Addo
could only manage 45.53 per cent, though he had had
two years to market himself to the people.
In all these analyses we the GRASSROOT FOR POWER (GRAFOP)
do not foresee a restoration of the goodwill of the
Central Region, if the NPP do not change its face in
the coming election in 2016. We are again surprised
by the fact that, even as this boat sinking
performance stir us in the face, our leaders allowed
themselves to be coerced and endorsed Nana
Akufo-Addo, as if without him the party is no more.
The most painful aspect of the whole show is that,
some delegates who were among the few who took part
in the Special Delegates Congress are trying to
impose their 31st August decision on the over
140,000 delegates at the grassroots, who have been
given the final say by our constitution to determine
who becomes a flag bearer of our dear Party.
We are, as such, urging all aspirants to make
themselves available to the polling station
executives who are the real king makers, and in so
doing it will revamp the spirit of the party at the
grassroots.
Let us save Central Region from the sharp fall. NPP
deserves better in the region after the
unprecedented performance of John Agyekum Kufour.
We want to state categorically clear that the only
person among the aspirants who can meet the
expectation of the good people of the Central Region
and can win the Region, especially along the coastal
belt, for the New Patriotic Party is Hon. Alan John
Kwadwo Kyerematen. We are the grassroots, we live
with the people and we know what they want. He is
perceived to be humble, he is more appealing, he
answers the needs of the large unemployed youth:
“Jobs for People” and moreover his mother comes from
the region. We urge all delegates who will be
privileged to vote come 18th October 2014, to Vote
Hon. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen for Victory 2016.
We can no longer stay in Opposition! We want Power!
Vote Alan
Vote No 3
Vote Ase ho!
Vote for Power
Thank you.
Signed:
Alfred Taylor
(0577306293, 0505727164)
Coordinator, Central Region
GRASSROOTS FOR POWER (GRAFOP)- We want Power
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