Make me flagbearer …Agric Minister cries to NPP chairmen

All through the weekend, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto was meeting with constituency executive members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region ostensibly to get them to understand why he is the best person to be elected as the presidential candidate of the party for the 2024 elections, The New Publisher has gathered.

The Minister, a 71-year-old man and close confidant of the President, Nana Akufo-Addo was reported to have met with all 47 constituency chairmen of the party in the region and later met with communication officers, Nasara Coordinators and Research Officers and other groups at different times at his residence.

Persons who fall within the attendance group but were outside the region were sent notices to move to Kumasi as a matter of urgency. It is not confirmed how their transportation arrangements were footed.

Mobile phones and all devices capable of recording were not allowed into the meeting.

At each of the meetings, he was said to have given a lengthy address about his genealogy and ancestry and dovetailed that narrative into why he is the choicest heir apparent to his good old friend, Nana Addo.

Reports said the Agric Minister in what appeared like an attempt to woo his audience, spoke about the poor state of roads within the Ashanti Region and promised he would be the best Presient to ensure all such roads are constructed.

He is said to have embarked on a one-on-one meeting with his target audience after the group meetings.
Though not confirmed beyond doubt, the Agric Minister was reported to have promised to offer some key positions in his yet-to-be-formed government to some persons he is relying on to become President.
Gov’t Positions

Dr. Akoto was said to have informed some of the influential party members that they would surely occupy key positions in his government in four years time.

According to credible party sources that attended the crunch meeting, Dr. Akoto reportedly asked some of the party members if they were doing well in life and that under his presidency, they would live comfortable lives. .

Most of the party members, in response to Dr. Akoto’s question, retorted that life was indeed difficult for them despite the fact the NPP was in power.

The Agric Minister was said to have charged the NPP executives to offer him their unflinching support and he would reciprocate their kind gesture with juicy appointments.

Doubts

Meanwhile, some of the NPP executives from the 47 constituencies that are not in support of Dr. Akoto’s presidential ambition said the promises are fluke.

According to them, Dr. Akoto was just desperate to win their support therefore he (Akoto) was just issuing mouthwatering promises to entice them.

Some of them said they do not even have the requisite academic certificates and qualifications to be appointed into government so they don’t take promises serious.

Fresh Meeting

Despite being lambasted widely for starting a presidential ambition, Dr. Akoto seems unperturbed as his presidential ambition is still intact.

Party sources said Dr. Akoto’s campaign team members met and interacted with NPP constituency organizers in his Denyame residence on Tuesday.

Dr. Akoto was said not to be present at the Tuesday’s meeting.

Change of Message

Some of the NPP organizers said perhaps the backlash that Dr. Akoto received after his ambition was made public, had changed his campaign message a bit.

They said Dr. Akoto’s team said their boss was only soliciting for the views of party executives as to whether Dr. Akoto should contest for the big seat or not.

Even if that was so, it sounds ridiculous and a seeming betrayal that a Cabinet Minister in a government just barely three months old would start lacing boots to become the next candidate.

The party has not even opened nominations. It is just the first quarter of the first year of four-year tenure but perhaps, some appointees want to become early birds…. MORE SOON