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Nana Akufo-Addo’s dream of hoodwinking Ghanaians with his new catchphrase “try me too”, to enable him equal the feat of his late father, Sir Edward Akufo-Addo, as president of Ghana after the November 7 elections is fast turning out to be his waterloo.
This is contrary to his 2016 Campaign Manager, Peter Mac Manu’s assertion that the “try me too” campaign approach will yield the needed results.

Apparently oblivious Nana Akufo-Addo in consultations with his close allies are fashioning out a strategy to drop the widely censured campaign catchphrase, Mac Manu, yesterday on Joy Fm, spiritedly justified the NPP standard bearer’s much criticized “try me too”.

Obviously to the embarrassment of the NPP flag bearer, Mac Manu told Joy News “It is in all humility that we give respect to the voters. They have the power and if you want them to give it to you, you beg them and you appeal to them. Elections are done in a multiplicity of ways so if we are doing one thing; that is pleading for votes, it’s just one of the many things the party is doing,” he stated.

However, The aL-hAJJ can confidently report the three-time flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party is so much crestfallen by the backlash that greeted his much vaunted campaign theme that, he has decided to drop it like ‘hot potatoes’ to avert further embarrassment.

Party insiders have confided in The aL-hAJJ that Nana Akufo-Addo has not taken kindly to the heavy censure of his “try me too” cliché. A catchphrase which critics say depicts him as someone desperately ‘begging” for votes because, the upcoming November presidential polls offer him the last opportunity to achieving his childhood dream of becoming president.

According to a source close to the twice defeated presidential candidate, what has pushed him to decide to drop the mantra are certain comments and submissions by some notable and influential Ghanaians to the effect that, the country in its present state of development cannot be experimented by a “try and error” Head of State.

“This whole try-me-too thing has caused serious embarrassment to Nana. It has been misconstrued by sections of the populace…it was not intended to portray Nana as someone desperate who wants to become president at-all-cost. Unfortunately for us our plan for him to use it, with hopes it will appeal to floating voters seem to have backfired and what we are left with now is to do a volte-face…and Nana, knowing him for who he is has agreed to drop that phrase,” a senior member of the NPP told The aL-hAJJ on strict condition of anonymity.

He added “while in the Western region, a lady from one of the villages ask that if he (Nana) is saying we should try him too and by God’s grace he will not disappoint…what then will happen if we try him and God decides not to shower his grace on him?” That was the day we realized that this thing was not hitting the people right as we expected. But we kept faith, hoping with time, Ghanaians will understand us but unfortunately it has gone from bad to worse.”

Nana Akufo-Addo has in recent times spent better part of his campaign tours on challenging Ghanaians to kick him out if they vote for him and he does not deliver as President.

According to him, he is clear in his mind the direction and purpose of his leadership should he emerge victorious in the November polls.

“This year, try me too. Give me the chance to show you what I can do. Four years is not so far away. If I come and I don’t succeed, kick me out. God knows my heart and I can assure you that I won’t disappoint you. Progress and prosperity are what I am offering the people of Ghana,” Nana Addo stressed when he addressed a gathering of Muslim clerics and Chiefs of settler communities in Derma in the Tano South constituency in the Brong Ahafo.

However, his “new” coined message which is a complete departure from his previous campaign slogan “I believe in Ghana”, in the 2008 and 2012 electioneering campaigns has been deeply criticized by many social commentators and political adversaries as lacking vision and clear-cut commitment to solving the country’s problems.

Others have also criticized it as cheap and desperate and, lacking direction and policy alternatives needed to encourage Ghanaians to vote for him.

Among foremost critics of Nana Akufo-Addo’s “try me too” campaign message is one of his own admirers and former Journalist of Year, Manasseh Azure Awuni of Joy Fm.

In a response to Akufo-Addo’s “try-me-too” mantra, the avid government critic wrote on his facebook wall “…My beef is about your message. After taking your usual jabs at President Mahama and promising better health care and free (SHS) education, you kept on pleading with the voters to try you. You said you had come to them several times and went on to beg passionately and repeatedly that the voters should give you a chance, that they should try you.

I find your message awkward, uninspiring, and a recipe for mediocrity. I humbly submit to you that the presidency at this critical stage in our nation's life is not a trial-and-error business. You are 72 years old, a dozen years above your retirement age. If you try and fail, you have nothing to lose. But my generation has a lot to lose if you try and fail.”

“You and your party have called the Mahama administration a mediocre one. But what you must not forget is that a mediocre opposition is bound to produce a mediocre government. And for your information, the stance of people like me on your free SHS has not changed since 2008. Make the nation better so that people can pay for their kids'
education. And who lied to you that free education at the senior high school level is the biggest problem in our education sector?

Schools like Achimota, Mfantsipim and other first class senior high schools are deteriorating and are surviving on the benevolence of old students associations while basic schools across the country lack the most basic infrastructure as well as teaching and learning materials. Wake up to the reality, Mr. Flag Bearer.

In the coming days, you and your team should get a better message that can give hope for Change and transformation. That's what Ghana needs now, not a trial-and-error President. Besides, when you preach change you should give your audience a good reason to change.

Pastor Mensa Otabil said over the weekend that we should not measure our success based on the failure of others. And I have said before that the failure of the Mahama administration is not enough reason to vote for the NPP,” Manasseh Awuni added.