Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has issued a strong caution to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), urging the party to rise above a mere popularity contest as it prepares to elect its next presidential candidate.
Speaking on PM Express on JoyNews, Monday, July 21, the veteran lawmaker emphasized that Ghana’s future requires a leader who goes beyond meeting basic eligibility criteria.
Also Read: President Mahama Vows Legal Action Over Alleged Double Payments Under Akufo-Addo Administration
“People are coming out there because they satisfy the qualification and eligibility criteria as set out in the party’s constitution or even the national constitution,” he acknowledged. However, he was quick to add that these should not be the sole basis for selection.
His remarks were in response to a concern raised by host Evans Mensah about the monetization of the party’s primaries, made possible by a moderately expanded electoral college. According to Mensah, the revised system still allows aspirants with financial muscle to heavily influence delegate decisions.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu agreed, stressing that the stakes for both party and country demand a deeper evaluation of aspirants. “We are not just looking at qualification or eligibility,” he said. “We must be looking for leadership, for someone who can actually be president.”
The Suame MP, who has long been a prominent voice within the NPP, recounted a similar moment from the party’s history. He recalled how in 2007, during the race to succeed President John Agyekum Kufuor, party elder Kwame Pianim issued a sobering warning as 17 candidates entered the race.
“Kwame Pianim reminded us that we weren’t just looking for a flagbearer. He said something powerful: ‘As for flagbearer, any idiot could be one. But what the party needs is a presidential candidate who can become the president of Ghana.’”
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu echoed that sentiment, insisting that the NPP must take the responsibility seriously. “We are not just looking for a flagbearer,” he concluded. “We are looking for a president.”
source: myjoyonline
