Presidential Candidacy Doesn’t Guarantee Victory – Academic Warns NPP Delegates
Story by: Akua-Piesie
A prominent academic has cautioned political party delegates against assuming that becoming a presidential candidate automatically leads to electoral victory, emphasizing that successful leadership requires specific traits and extensive political experience.
Dr. Samuel Afriyie, a lecturer at Kumasi Technical University, made these observations while analyzing Ghana’s political landscape and the qualities required for effective presidential leadership.
## The “Going Through the Mill” Philosophy
Speaking on the requirements for presidential success, Dr. Afriyie stressed that aspiring leaders must demonstrate their capacity to attract broader national support beyond their party base.
“For someone becoming flagbearer or presidential candidate for his party does not necessarily leads to President,” Dr. Afriyie stated. “Individuals must have some kind of traits to lead the country.”
He urged delegates to vote for candidates who possess the capacity that Ghanaians will accept and support in a general election.
## Learning from Ghana’s Political History
Drawing from Ghana’s Fourth Republic experience, Dr. Afriyie noted that successful presidents have typically undergone extensive political preparation before assuming office.
“All those who have come in the 4th republic have gone through some kind of mill, meaning they have tried several times, repositioned and rebranded themselves to attract the interest of Ghanaians,” he explained.
The academic cited former Presidents J.A. Kufuor, the late Prof. E.A. Mills, Nana Akufo-Addo, and current President John Dramani Mahama as examples of leaders who underwent this rigorous political preparation process.
## Beyond Sectoral Excellence
Dr. Afriyie cautioned against equating excellence in a particular ministry or sector with presidential readiness.
“One cannot boost of his strength in a particular ministry to qualify him to become a leader because he performed extremely well in that sector,” he emphasized.
## The Complexity of Presidential Leadership
Highlighting the multifaceted nature of presidential responsibilities, Dr. Afriyie outlined the diverse challenges facing Ghana’s head of state.
“Becoming president of Ghana is not an easy task – dealing with different kinds of people at the same time, dealing with emotions, dealing with national security, dealing with foreign issues. Some advanced level of traits must be acquired to handle national issues,” he said.
He emphasized that “being a President is not trial and error,” underscoring the need for proven leadership capabilities.
## Current NPP Aspirants: Strategic Positioning
In his analysis of current New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirants, Dr. Afriyie suggested that several candidates are engaged in long-term political positioning rather than expecting immediate success.
He indicated that Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum, Bryan Acheampong, and Kwabena Agyapong are building their political credentials for future opportunities, while Kennedy Agyapong is working to enhance his leadership qualities. He noted that Dr. Bawumia is also rebranding himself for another opportunity.
“They all have reasons to join the Presidential primary and everyone is hoping to win,” Dr. Afriyie observed.
## Call for Strategic Voting
The academic’s message to party delegates was clear: consider not just party loyalty, but the broader electability and leadership capacity of candidates when making their choice.
His analysis comes at a crucial time as political parties prepare for their internal elections and position themselves for future general elections.
The observations highlight the ongoing debate about political experience versus fresh perspectives in Ghana’s democratic process, emphasizing that successful presidential leadership requires a combination of political acumen, broad appeal, and proven leadership capabilities.
