As the race for the flagbearship contest of the NPP fast approaches, many “kukrudites” have started given their interpretation of what the NPP tradition is. Few among them are those ranting with the Danquah, Busia and Dombo traditions.
It is important the NPP grassroots understand the real history and tradition of what truly the Danquah, Busia and Dombo traditions mean.
Education on what the NPP tradition is, has gradually become very necessary because of the many false interpretations.
It is a fact that; the Danquah, Busia and Dombo traditions are the building blocks of the NPP as a political party.
BECOMING A MEMBER OF THIS TRADITION IS NOT BY ORIGIN BUT IDEOLOGY:
Many are tempted to believe that becoming a member of the Danquah, Busia, and Dombo traditions will be more of origin than being ideological.
I am a roman catholic not because I am from Rome, but rather because I believe in the ideology of the Romans in serving Christ.
Belonging to any of such traditions has nothing to do with tribe, origin, or lineage but everything to do with ideology.
Prof. Adu Boahen, the first flag-bearer of the NPP party, was rooted in the Danquah tradition not because he originated from Juaben in the Ashanti Region or had his roots also traced to Osiem in the Eastern Region.
Rather, because he believed in the ideology of Danquah and had his political orientation from that tradition.
Former President Kufour is known to have his lineage in the Atwima Nwabiagya District in the modern-day “Atwima Nwabiagya South District”.
Politically he had his political orientation through the Busia tradition.
This means he believes in the idealogy of Busia and hence he’s politically aligned to the Busia tradition.
Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia, was from Wenchi in Brong Ahafo Region, modern-day Bono Region.
This ideological and political orientation of Adu Boahen and Kufuor is what truly represents the Danquah, Busia, and Dombo traditions of the NPP.
If the party is going to be based on the tradition as some see it, then the Danquah tradition has been already represented by two (2) people.
Prof. Adu Boahen and President Akufo Addo, whilst the Busia tradition have been represented by only former President Kufuor.
The NPP flagbearship race is clearly between two (2) major contenders as we approach 2024; Alan Kyerematen and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Some party folks are trying hard to misinterpret the NPP tradition for their parochial interests.
Below are the two (2) traditions they can trace their loyalty to – (Danquah and Busia Traditions)
Alan Kyerematen is a founding member of the NPP who is well-rooted in the Busia tradition based on ideology.
He founded the Young Executive Forum (YEF), as far back as 1992.
He had intentions to contest the 1996 Flagbearership race of the NPP but was advised by party stalwarts to allow his senior patriot Kufour to contest.
He later on contested it at a time when President Kufour was not going to contest it anymore.
Alan Kyerematen then contested the Flagbearership in 2007, 2011 and 2014 and endured defeats to his senior patriot Akufo Addo our current President.
Dr. Bawumia was a deputy manager of the Bank of Ghana (BOG), at the time when President Akufo Addo contested Alan Kyerematen for the Flagbearership in 2007.
He was an economist at that time and had no orientation, record, or association as far as the NPP tradition is concerned.
Interestingly, when Dr. Bawumia was even chosen to be a running mate of the party, he wasn’t even a card-bearing member of the NPP.
The party was very gracious to Dr. Bawumia and the council of elders accepted President Akufo Addo’s choice. He was again chosen as a running mate for the party in 2012.
In 2016, he was again made a running mate for the third consecutive time and NPP won the general elections.
I can confidently say without any restrictions that; Dr. Bawumia only saw the need to contribute his quota to the NPP at the time when he saw that he had received an unmerited favor from the party.
This necessitated his contribution to the party with the favor of running mate to President Akufo Addo.
Dr. Bawumia can trace his political orientation in President Akufo Addo and therefore the Danquah tradition.
CONCLUSION
If we are making our arguments, let us not make our decisions on tribal references, regional origins, and the opposition to NDC’s judgments.
No opposition party means well for any incumbent party.
Prof. Adu Boahen is from the Danquah tradition, former President Kufour is from the Busia tradition, President Akufo Addo is also from the Danquah tradition, Alan Kyerematen is also from the Busia tradition and Dr. Bawumia from the Danquah tradition.
Watch Out for Part Two (2)…!
By: Solomon Bimoktey
