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Even before the various political parties in the country begin official campaigns to snatch the keys of the Flag Staff House from the ruling National Democratic Congress’ John Dramani Mahama, financiers and supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party have given up on the party’s chances of recapturing power in 2016.

This damning verdict on Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s third and possibly, last attempt at the presidency, The aL-hAJJhas gathered, is as a result of the deep-rooted cracks in the party and the alleged embezzlement of party funds coupled with Nana Akufo-Addo unwillingness to step-down for his running mate, DrMahamuduBawumia.

Reports are that while supporters of the party especially, those on social media are reported less enthused to continuecampaigning for the party on platforms, bankrollers of the NPP, party sources say, are also no longer interested in financing its activities.

Aside citing what they say is “Nana Akufo-Addo’s twice wasted opportunities of not been able to win them power even when they had spent huge sums of money on his campaigns”, what is said to have further worsened the opposition party’s plight is the unending fratricidal infighting in the NPP and the mindboggling exposéof how some executives are reported to be dissipating party funds.

The party financiers, party insiders say, have also decided to turn their back at the party because of Nana Akufo-Addo’s refusal to relinquish the 2016 flag bearer slot to Dr Bawumia after agreeing to at a recent meeting to abort his presidential dreams in support of his running mate.

Sources say bankrollers of the party, who gleefully embraced news of Nana Akufo-Addo’sacquiescence at a recent meeting to surrender the flag bearer post to Dr. Bawumia, were taken aback by Nana Akufo-Addo’s subtle campaign strategy with his ongoing “Rise and Build Tour”.

This, supporters and bankrollers of the party say, has made the party unattractive and unlikely to reclaim power from the ruling NDC.

This is also said to have rendered the NPP, which staged one of the most expensive campaigns in the history of Ghana politics whiles in government in 2008, and almost did repeated same in 2012, virtually broke, to the extent; branch executives through to constituencies are unable to hold meetings as was the case in the past.

Party insiders disclosed to The aL-hAJJ that financiers who the party could have relied on are complaining bitterly of having to invest heavily into two grueling campaigns of Nana Akufo-Addo and an election petition without desired results.
Part of the reasons also contributing to the financial woes of the party is decision by NPP MPs to stop providing funds for the party.

With the lack of funds threatening the survival of the party, and obviously worsening the lethargy among party supporters ahead of next year’s presidential election, the Germany branch of the party last week announced plans to raise 150,000 euros to remedy the situation.

However, supporters of the party are said to have raised concerns that “looking at the deep seated rift in the party and the alleged embezzlement of party funds, even when we manage to raise enough money for our campaign, we are likely not to achieve any meaningful results.”

An overly perplexed NPP supporter (name withheld) who called into the office of The aL-hAJJsaid “2016 does not look good for the NPP. Looking at what is happening in the party, there is no way we can win power come 2016. Our supporters and financiers are all dejected.”

“Even the big men in the party who we all take inspiration from are doubtful of our chances in 2016. Did you listen to Nana Addo himself when he addressed party supporters in AkimOda? He is out steam just like the ordinary supporter of the NPP on the street…it’s very sad my brother,” he painfully stated.

The NPP activist said, the party, which in the heat of the 2008 campaign had the financial muscle to virtually cease all TV and radio stations to broadcast live its campaign and also mobilized almost all the top musicians in the country to compose songs for its 2008 and 2012 flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, is now said to have depleted its “financial reserves” and is becoming unattractive to “floating voters”.

Having realized the party is on the verge of losing another major election, the NPP’s 2016 parliamentary candidate for Effiduase-Asokore, Dr Nana AyewAfriyie, has called on Nana Akufo-Addo to boycott the 2016 elections if the Electoral Commission does not yield to the NPP’s demand for a new voters registers.

According to him, they (NPP) would lose next year’s election to the NDC if the current voters register, which the NPP has described as bloated, is not changed.

However, a founding member of the NPP, DrNyahoTamakloe, who has, perhaps also seen another defeat awaiting the biggest opposition in 2016, said the party is gradually degenerating into a communist party under Nana Akufo-Addo’s watch.

A worried Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, who was commenting on the back of the party scribe’s outcry recently, claimed that since Afoko and Agyepong came to office, some persons have been working to tarnish their image.

“I am so shocked. This has never happened in the history of our party. AgyenimBoateng, AlaAdjetey, Dan Botwe, Mac Manu, OheneNtow, ObetsebiLamptey, OwusuAfriyie, no one undermined them in this way and so why are these two executives not having the peace they need?

“I remember KwabenaAgyepong visited me before he became the general secretary and I remember telling him to be careful else those people he trusts very well will turn against him and make the party a communist party,” he added.