The NPP Tradition has proven to be the finest tradition when it comes to leadership, good governance, accountability, and the production of quality trustworthy men and women to steer the affairs of this country.

It was therefore not surprising that in 2007 the party was blessed with the rare opportunity of choosing from Seventeen (17) presidential materials- of which His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo emerged as the chosen one.

In recent times, there has been loud rumors about who will lead the NPP to win the 2024 election after Nana Addo. Even though several names have come up, this publication looked at two of the fore-runners, to compare and contrast their impeccable background.

Thirteen (13) different measuring rods were used to measure these two distinguished gentlemen and you will love to relax and feed your mind with the humble work of my pen.

The purpose of this work is not to recommend one for you, but rather to provide readers with an opportunity to be informed about the choices we have.

ALAN KYEREMATEN VS. DR. BAWUMIA (COMPARED)

1. PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

ALAN: Alan is an astute Economist, a Lawyer (since 1984), a Specialist in Global trade issues, a Corporate Executive, a Diplomat, and a UN Policy Advisor.

BAWUMIA: Dr. Bawumia is an astute Economist, a lecturer and a Banker.

2. WHEN THEY JOINED THE NPP

ALAN: Alan is a Founding member of the NPP. He has been with the party since 1992. He suffered with those who began the party. He even formed the Young Executive Forum that raised funds to support the party and brought business people on board the party.

BAWUMIA: The Respected Dr. Bawumia joined the NPP with only the promise to make him Vice President in 2008.

3. THEIR AGENDA FOR GHANA

ALAN: Alan is focused on using industrialization and trade to take Ghana to the next level, His mantra has been Jobs for the people, Cash for the people.

BAWUMIA: Dr. Bawumia is known for delivering lectures on the economy and has an agenda to use digitization as the engine of growth.

4. RISING THROUGH THE RANKS

ALAN: Alan has grown through the ranks in politics so he has capacity to shoulder the heavy burden of presidency and also to be able to lead the party well.

BAWUMIA: Dr. Bawumia did not rise through the rank and file of politics but his work at the Bank of Ghana made him have adequate knowledge about the management of the economy.

5. SERVICE AT THE PARTY LEVEL

ALAN: He has been on the National Executive Committee of the party so he knows how to manage the party and the government.

BAWUMIA: We cannot be certain if Dr. Bawumia is capable at this point to lead the party and the government at the same time, but we do not doubt his leadership credentials

6. CONTESTING LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ELECTIONS

ALAN: Alan Kyerematen has contested elections not only in Ghana but at the international level as well, when he contested for the high office of Director General of the World Trade Organization.

BAWUMIA: Dr. Bawumia has not on his own contested any position before except serving as running mate for Nana Addo. So on his own he has no personal electoral experience.

7. ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT TEAM

ALAN: Alan Kyerematen has served the Economic Management Team of both the Kuffuor led and the Nana Addo Led administration

BAWUMIA: Dr. Bawumia has led the Economic Management Team of the current Government, and was the deputy governor of the bank of Ghana

8. ELECTORAL BASE

ALAN: Alan Kyerematen hails from a Regions which can produce close to 50% of the total  votes the NPP obtains in any election.  Ashanti Region and Central Region

BAWUMIA: Dr. Bawumia hails from a Region which contribute to the success story of the NPP but the percentage votes obtained by the opposition is always higher than that of the NPP

9. HIGHEST POSITION OCCUPIED

ALAN: Alan Kyerematen served as Ghana's Ambassador to the USA during Kuffuor administration and has also served as Trade Minister in Kufuor's Government and Akufo- Addo's government.

BAWUMIA: Dr. Bawumia has been Vice President of the Akufo-Addo administration for two terms.

10. APPEAL TO NEUTRALS

ALAN: Alan Kyerematen is respected by neutrals and even members of the opposition party. The praises showered on him by the Minority Leader in his 2021 Ministerial vetting is evidence enough

BAWUMIA: Dr. Bawumia has a fair appeal to neutrals

11. POPULARITY

ALAN: Alan Kyerematen is popular and ranks second to the Vice President on the scale of popularity in the party and in Ghana according to recent surveys

BAWUMIA: Dr. Bawumia is more popular than Alan Kyerematen as per recent surveys and highly among the recent generation of young people who became politically exposed in the last 10 years

12. OPINION POLLS ON WINNERBILITY

ALAN: All known opinion polls presently suggest that Alan Kyerematen has an upper hand to win the NPP Primaries and Ghana's Presidential Elections as compared to others in the race.

BAWUMIA: Most existing opinion polls does not suggest a victory for Dr. Bawumia.

13. SPOUSES

ALAN:  Alan’s wife is not a politically active person. She comes from a well-identified constituent in our electoral space. She is the daughter of Justice Joseph Kingsley-Nyinah, Ghana's Electoral Commissioner during the 1979 presidential election, and can use that to galvanize some political capital from the right constituents.

BAWUMIA: Bawumia has a politically active wife and a tough campaigner, who has admiration among young women. She doesn’t have a well-defined constituent within our Ghanaian political space

 Thank you

The author can be reached via pdorchill@gmail.com.