In what appears to be a direct response to Alan Kyerematen’s ‘youthfulness’ claims, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has questioned the basis on which his closest rival is declaring himself a young man. Alan Kyerematen, who is 55 years and the youngest of the five contenders for the NPP’s flagbearership slot has consistently played the age card to his advantage, arguing that he identifies himself more with the nation’s younger breed who form a majority of the electorates. However in an interview on Citi FM on Friday, August 6, Nana Addo, in a satirical manner sought to play down Mr. Kyerematen’s claims. He wondered why a 55-year-old man could so passionately consider himself a youth. “It’s a bit strange to know that a 55-year-old man is considered young but I suspect it’s because I am 66 that’s why; if it wasn’t for that I find it a bit difficult to see how somebody who is 55 is described as young. Maybe it’s a new redefinition of youth.” He jested. For Nana Addo, the age argument is absolutely misplaced. He told Citi FM’s Patrick Ayumu that although he is likely to be President of Ghana at age 69, succeeding as a President is more dependent on the quality of leadership the person wields instead of his age. “There has been a leader who was at the age of 24 in England, there is somebody who became a leader at the age of 68 in England, both of them have important role to play in the development of their country. “I don’t think that is what you have to look at…at the end of the day, what you are looking for is an effective leadership material. They can come in all ages and sizes and it’s always a question of the person who at any given time resonates on the issues that are confronting his time and his society, including the young, the old, the middle age. That’s what you are looking at in terms of whether or not you have a leader who is relevant.” He argued. On Thursday, August 5, Alan, in an interview with Citi FM’s Moro Awudu cited a number of young leaders, including US President Barack Obama, French Prime Minister Nicholas Sarkozy, among others to buttress his point that the current political dispensation is for the relatively young and energetic people. When he took his turn at the studios of Citi FM on Friday, August 6, Nana Addo also shared his own version of the age story. “Ronald Reagan entered the white house when he was 70; by common consensus he is considered the greatest post cold war president that the Americans have ever had since Rooselvet, the famous English man considered the greatest Prime Minister in England’s history, Winston Churchill became the prime Minister at age 68, the President of Senegal, Abdulai Wade who became president at the age of 70+ has proven to be a very strong and purposeful leader for Senegal, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became president at age 68 or 69 and at the age of 70+ she is seeking a return. I don’t think that age is what you have to look at.” He told Patrick Ayumu. With less than 24 hours for NPP delegates to decide between the five presidential hopefuls, the question still remains: would it be a second time luck for Nana Addo or a breakthrough for Alan, or perhaps a major upset from Isaac Osei, Prof. Frimpong Boateng or Kumasi based lawyer, Apostle Kodua? Source: Citifmonline.com/Ghana