Key New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopefuls, including the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, on Thursday defied a heavy downpour to pay homage to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. Taking advantage of the funeral rites of Otumfuo's late brother, Barima Kwabena Poku, the NPP aspirants were said to have used the solemn occasion to garner support for their presidential bids. The aspirants included Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, MP for Offinso North; Hon. Yaw Osafo Maafo, former Finance and Economic Planning Minister and MP for Oda; Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, former Chief Executive of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Hon. Hackman Owusu Agyemang, former Water Resources, Works and Housing Minister. Another group of aspirants had earlier joined President Kufuor to mourn with the Asantehene over the death of his brother, who was interred on Monday, September 3, 2007. They included Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, former Foreign Affairs Minister; Daniel Kwaku Botwe, former Information Minister, and Alan Kyeremanten, former Minister of Trade, Industry and PSI. In a deliberate move to demonstrate that they understood tradition and custom, the presidential aspirants took turns to shake hands with the occupant of the Golden Stool and other highly-placed personalities present at the function. According to the Daily Guide, political analysts in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, said that the appearance of the politicians was purposefully aimed at winning the confidence and support of the Asantehene and the rest of the Manhyia Palace, as they prepared towards the December 22 National Delegates' Conference in Accra. In what appeared to be a rehearsed and pre-arranged drama, as soon as each of the aspirants touched down at the funeral ground, their supporters mobbed them and chanted their names. Dr. Apraku stole the show when his supporters, numbering about 60 and wearing T-shirts with his picture embossed on them, danced to brass band Music and mobbed him. Under the circumstance, the Akomadan-born MP had it tough making his way to where his colleague aspirants were seated. The dramatic display of loyalty to Dr. Apraku by his supporters, which caught the eyes of a number of mourners, gave the impression that the aspirant had already been elected flagbearer of the party. Members of the disbanded Friends of Nana Akufo-Addo (FONAA) also took centre stage when their mentor attended the high-profile funeral. According to the paper, as the date for the National Delegates Conference of the party draws nearer, some of the presidential hopefuls were said to have adopted a strategy of attending social gatherings including funerals, to whip up support and market themselves to potential delegates. Barima Kwabena Poku, son of Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem, the Asantehemaa, died at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi. Source: Daily Guide