A group calling itself Grassroots for Power (GRAFOP) in the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has thrown it weight behind 
flagbearer aspirant, Alan Kyerematen ahead of the party’s presidential primaries on October 18th, 2014.
According to the group, Mr. Kyerematen is the only one who can win back votes in regions like Central region which they lost in the 2012 elections.
The group in a statement signed by its coordinator, Alfred Taylor said they “foresee a restoration of the goodwill of the Central Region, if the NPP do not change its face in the coming election in 2016”.
Below is the full statement
John Alan Kyerematen- the man to rescue our votes in Central Region – GRASSROOTS FOR POWER (GRAFOP)
It is very disturbing to watch leaders of our great Party tread on grounds that are sure to keep us in opposition after the 2016 elections. Sadly, they fail to draw lessons from mistakes that led to our defeats in 2008 and 2012.
Following the pattern of voting in the Central Region, it appears the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is looking at another loss in a place that has once helped bring us to power, if it presents Nana Akufo-Addo as its Presidential Candidate for 2016.
Research shows that votes from the Region are affected by three major elements, which are the people’s perception of a candidate’s competence and character; ethnic and cultural ties to the Region and a candidate’s looks.
In the year 2000’s General Election, the Region voted based on perception and looks. They perceived the then candidate Kufuor as more humble than candidate Mills because candidate Mills was associated with Former President Rawlings. They moreover saw Mr. Kufuor to be more appealing in appearance than Prof. Mills and this resulted in Mr. Kufuor securing 49.68 per cent against Prof. Mills’ 43.73 per cent of the total valid votes from the region, in the first round of the polls, and 60.25 per cent against 39.75 per cent, respectively, in the second round. A similar result was reached four years later when in the 2004 General Elections Mr. Kufuor led with 59.00 per cent and Prof. Mills had 39.21 per cent of the votes.
After the 2008 General Elections, it became evident that the goodwill of the people of the region, which the party enjoyed, was no more. It had ceased because we chose to present a candidate who fell short of the people’s expectations. The region voted for Prof. Mills, who they perceived to be humble compared to Nana Akufo-Addo. The people also found Nana Akufo-Addo’s posturing as one against their kind and due to the comments of Maame Dokono, they then adopted the ‘Adze wo fie oye’ catchword. This resulted in Prof. Mills securing 50.58 per cent as against Nana Akufo-Addo’s 45.97 per cent of valid votes in the first round, and 53.80 per cent against 46.20 percent, respectively, in the run-off election.
In 2012 the situation worsened. All three elements worked massively against the NPP. President John Mahama was seen as more humble, compared to Nana Akufo-Addo. The cultural identity card was played on Mr. Amissah-Arthur and President Mahama was seen more to be appealing in looks and stature than Nana Addo.
The proof of this is the result of the General Election where President Mahama got 52.12 per cent after just three months of campaigning and Nana Addo could only manage 45.53 per cent, though he had had two years to market himself to the people.
In all these analyses we the GRASSROOT FOR POWER (GRAFOP) do not foresee a restoration of the goodwill of the Central Region, if the NPP do not change its face in the coming election in 2016. We are again surprised by the fact that, even as this boat sinking performance stir us in the face, our leaders allowed themselves to be coerced and endorsed Nana Akufo-Addo, as if without him the party is no more.
The most painful aspect of the whole show is that, some delegates who were among the few who took part in the Special Delegates Congress are trying to impose their 31st August decision on the over 140,000 delegates at the grassroots, who have been given the final say by our constitution to determine who becomes a flag bearer of our dear Party.
We are, as such, urging all aspirants to make themselves available to the polling station executives who are the real king makers, and in so doing it will revamp the spirit of the party at the grassroots.
Let us save Central Region from the sharp fall. NPP deserves better in the region after the unprecedented performance of John Agyekum Kufour.
We want to state categorically clear that the only person among the aspirants who can meet the expectation of the good people of the Central Region and can win the Region, especially along the coastal belt, for the New Patriotic Party is Hon. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen.
We are the grassroots, we live with the people and we know what they want. He is perceived to be humble, he is more appealing, he answers the needs of the large unemployed youth: “Jobs for People” and moreover his mother comes from the region. We urge all delegates who will be privileged to vote come 18th October 2014, to Vote Hon. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen for Victory 2016.
We can no longer stay in Opposition! We want Power!
Vote Alan
Vote No 3
Vote Ase ho!
Vote for Power
Thank you.
Signed:
Alfred Taylor
