Listening to commentaries about the next leadership for NPP going forward, I get the sense that people are being swayed towards the direction of the wind without them carefully analysing the situation at hand. 

Party Executives will always demonstrate their parochial interests because in politics 'loyalty' is key. So these executives will quickly -indicate where they belong and often times they show their allegiance to the probable winning card - in this case for Nana Akufo-Addo because his popularity has swelled within the Party over the period.

They want to do that so they can keep their positions and enjoy the goodies that come with it without considering the larger picture; without being sensitive to the poor party people who are committing suicide because NPP keeps losing elections.

The argument being made now about Nana Akufo-Addo and why he should come again is that he is a very popular politician today. Although this is very true, unfortunately, that is not enough to win national elections for both him and the NPP as demonstrated in three different elections (2008 7/12, 28/12  and 2012 7/12).

Many people and hard working party youth are scared to say the truth for fear of falling out of the good books as he controls the party today.

Nana Akufo-Addo may be popular today, no qualms about that, but the question is: who made him this popular?

Of course he may have been living on the shadows of his late father who became a ceremonial president at a point in time in our history and being part of the ‘kum me preko’ struggle in 1995.  but these were known to the elite few in Ghana.

It is my view that Akufo-Addo's popularity before he stood on the NPP ticket was known to Historians, senior editors and very key political actors, and not the larger population.

Today, he has become a household name largely due to the massive support he has from the party.

The NPP is so attractive that whenever someone runs on its ticket the person’s popularity swells at an amazing proportion.

It happened to Prof. Adu Boahen when he was only known within high academic circles but became so popular when he had the opportunity to lead this great Party. Same as president Kuffuor who conducted himself so well and with the same support given to him by this great party became the president of our land. 

Once you become the flagbearer of the NPP, no doubt, you will surely become popular that is why some long serving party faithful and kingmakers like Dr. Richard Anane have said that it is a real Honour to lead the NPP. Because surely, you will receive all there is to win power.

The support in terms of financial resources, human backing support, intellectual luminaries to correct your goofs and public mistakes,  millions of the youth hailing you and wishing to die for you etc are readily available to any NPP candidate

 The point is that, this Party has done so much for Nana Addo in terms of image building and popularity both locally and internationally. It is this party, through Kufuor's administration, that made him Foreign Minister where he met a lot of world leaders.

He could have built upon his reputation and popularity when he got the opportunity to serve as minister  but unfortunately what I remember him for during these two important ministerial positions are one, The President versus Tsatsu Tsikata (Min. Of Justice) and 44 Ghanaians Killed in the Gambia but the Foreign Affairs Minister not doing anything about the situation (Min. Of  Foreign Affairs).

He couldn’t take advantage of these very rare opportunities given him to create some niche for himself.

 It is by the help of this party that he travelled many times during his reign as a flagbearer. Also all the financial resources that he has received over the last six years for his travels, meetings, receptions, self propagation  etc, are as result of he being the leader of the party.

It should be emphasised that Nana as a Flagbearer has received more financial support than any flagbearer in the history of NPP but the question is of the tall list of achievements that NPP used in campaigning in both 2008 and 2012, which of them was spearheaded by Nana Akufo-Addo?

 The NHIS came to be under the stewardship of Dr. Richard Anane. Ghana's road infrastructure, which stood at 34,000 kilometres by the year 2000 from the Gold Coast era rose to 67,000 kilometres  by the year 2008 also through the stewardship of Dr. Richard Anane as Road and Transport Minister.

The School Feeding Programme  came to be under the supervision of Mr. K Adjei Darko and Mr Amoako Tuffour. Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng for the National Youth Employment Programme. Which of the NPP’s achievements can be attributed to Nana Akufo-Addo?

Nana Akufo-Addo has become popular because since he became the leader of the Party, all party members rallied behind him and projected him.

Every party member speaks about him anytime they get the opportunity. Nana Akufo-Addo has become popular because people love NPP and they transfer that love to the party’s leader. Nana Addo has become popular because NPP’s money was used to make him popular.

He is the only NPP man who became flagbearer when the party was in power. He has received monies in the name of the Party than any party member. In 2008, Billboards of Nana Addo was novelty in Ghanaian Politics, Documentaries of Nana Addo and his visits to places were mindboggling, Radio and TV stations all talked about Nana Addo.

Newspappers had his photos at their front pages. All these were done with what? Money! From where?  

Some individuals organised functions for him to appear there so people will know him. Others tried hard to influence organisers of religious, social, academic and other events so his name shall appear on the bill. Who will not be popular with these efforts? But as my naija pals will say ‘Na Popularity we go chop’? Members of the Party want Power, Power and Power!

Sincerity and statesmanship requires that Nana Akufo-Addo hands over the party that was handed to him in peace back to the people. That Party has done more than enough for him in terms of financial resourcing, popularity, networking, image building among others. Now everybody says he is a statesman.

Losing three national elections in row with all these resources means he can never get it and party people cannot wait until 2020 to come to power. The country needs NPP, everything has fallen apart. The court case has given him some goodwill coupled with huge popularity that he enjoys now should be enough grounds  for him to say thank you to NPP and bow out to keep this national respect. Going into another election and losing again will bring him a lot of frustration and probably take him to his early grave.

With all due respect to Nana Addo, there are times when one needs to say no to keep his or her head up.

 At 70, it is not advisable to be criss-crossing the country canvassing for votes, it may lead to a premature breakdown.

Simply put, Nana Addo should realise that he took over a Party that was more united and that was in power but took it into opposition and millions are suffering for that.

That he is popular today is because the party made him so, but he rather has made the party unpopular in some sort due to his 'all die be die' statement. The time to say "I am grateful to you NPP for allowing me lead" is now. The time to bow out quietly is now.

I believe this is an opportune time to say no to all those who call upon you, many of who want to maintain their positions in the party and continue enjoying. I rest my case.

 Many thanks.