The January, 2008 monthly report of the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) on Ghana, devoted its review of the political scene to the election of a presidential candidate by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).Part of the analysis said "was generally considered by the party hierarchy that if the second ballot were to have been allowed, this would have caused a split in the ranks of the party. This would have caused a split in the ranks of the party, even after a winner was elected. Consequently, the second-placed finisher, Alan Kyerematen, exercised caution and advised that Nana Akufo-Addo be declared the winner."The write-up also added, "Mr. Kyerematen's move not to call for a second round saved the unity of the NPP, as the indications were that if Nana Akufo-Addo had not won, the party would have suffered party ruptures."Below is the write-up, unedited: "The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) held its National Delegates’ Conference on December 22 to elect its presidential candidate to contest the 2008 presidential election.Out of the 18 candidates who made all the necessary preparations and paid the requisite amounts to take part in the primaries, one key aspirant, Nkrabea Effah-Dartey, was disqualified by the NPP's vetting committee on the grounds that in 1981 he was court marshalled and found guilty of an attempted coup to overthrow the civilian regime. Thus, the contest was between the remaining 17.In all, about 2,326 delegates from the 230 constituencies, patrons of the party and overseas branches with voting rights cast their votes to elect a presidential flag bearer.Although the NPP's constitution stipulates that the successful candidate must poll at least 50% plus one of the total votes cast, the first round of balloting was so tense that Nana Akufo-Addo was declared the winner with only 47.9% of the total votes cast.It was generally considered by the party hierarchy that if the second ballot were to have been allowed, this would have caused a split in the ranks of the party even after a winner was elected.Consequently, the second place finisher, Alan Kyerematen, exercised caution and advised that Nana Akufo-Addo be declared the winner. Immediately, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that he will ensure that Mr. Kyerematen becomes 'president' after him.Mr. Kyerematen's move not to call for a second round saved the unity of the NPP, as the indications were that if Nana Akufo-Addo had not won, the party would have suffered serious ruptures.Mr. Kyerematen was the preferred candidate of the current president, John Agyekum Kufuor, but in 1996, Nana Akufo-Addo was the runner-up to Mr. Kufuor. It is thought that President Kufuor did not back Nana Akufo-Addo because he was displeased with the latter's performance as Attorney General and Minister of Justice: he lost three important cases at the Supreme Court to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), and was moved by President Kufuor to the Foreign Affairs portfolio.Ethnic divisions within the NPP were also a factor, as President Kufuor is an Ashanti and the other main ethnic group within the NPP, the Akyem, felt that it was their turn to head the party. Many observers pointed out that it was not prudent for President Kufuor to support Mr. Kyerematen because he is also an Ashanti. However, the selection of Nana Akufo-Addo, an Akyem, should help to ensure that ethnic party tensions remain in-check.Analysts argued that because the delegates did not go to a second round to make the choice between Nana Akufo-Addo and Mr. Kyerematen, the former is going into the presidential race against Prof. John Atta Mills of the opposition NDC with only 48% of the NPP vote, and is therefore not going into the presidential race with a convincing majority. Source: Daily Dispatch