Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has warned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against prioritizing popularity and eligibility over leadership qualities in its presidential primaries. According to him, the stakes are too high for the party and the country to focus solely on who can contest, rather than who is best suited to lead.
“We’re not just looking for a flagbearer,” Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu emphasized. “We’re looking for a presidential candidate who can lead the country effectively.” He referenced a statement made by party elder Kwame Pianim in 2007, when the NPP had 17 aspirants vying for the flagbearership. Pianim’s words, “any idiot could become the flagbearer,” highlighted the need for the party to prioritize finding a capable leader over just anyone who meets the eligibility criteria.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s comments come amid concerns that the party’s electoral college system may be vulnerable to manipulation by well-funded aspirants. He stressed that the NPP needs a leader who can win the presidency, not just someone who can bear the flag.
