NPP primaries would determine Ghana’s future - Akufo-Addo

Nana Akufo-Addo         Nana Akufo-Addo, the lead contender in the upcoming primaries to elect a flagbearer for the main opposition party, NPP, for the 2012 general elections, has indicated that the results of the party’s upcoming contest on August 7 “would determine the fate of our dear nation in the upcoming years.” He said a successful primaries by the NPP with the most experienced and popular candidate elected as flag bearer, would increase the party’s already existing strength and promote unity for the party to wrestle power from the ruling NDC in the 2012 general election. He noted that “it is important for the NPP to win back power from the NDC in 2012 because Ghana must move forward.” More to this Nana Akufo-Addo said he was optimistic that when presented once more as the presidential candidate for the NPP, the NPP will recapture power in 2012. “I am confident that by the grace of God, and with unity within our ranks, if you elect me as flag bearer into the 2012 general elections, victory will come our way as a party,” he said. Addressing party delegates at the Tip Toe Gardens on Wednesday, 21st July 2010, in the Ayawaso Central constituency, Nana Akufo-Addo in the company of Hon. Sheik I.C Quaye, MP for Ayawaso Central, Hon. Prof. Mike Ocquaye, MP for Dome Kwabenya and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Frema Opare, MP for Ayawaso West Wogon, Hon. Shirley Ayokor Botway, MP for Weija, Hon. Elizabeth Sackey, MP for Okai Koi North, Alhaji N. M.D Jawula, and Lord Commey, the immediate past NPP National Organiser, together with his Victory 2012 Campaign Team, appealed to them to consider a candidate that the general public and majority of NPP delegates all over the country were calling for. “Put your ears down and choose a candidate whom majority of Ghanaians are calling for to lead our great party once again in the upcoming election and vote him as flag bearer of our party, so that our work in 2012 would be easier,” he said. In addition to this he said unity was very paramount for the NPP and therefore advised delegates and supporters of the party to rally behind any candidate who emerges as the flag bearer. The Ghanaian economy he said is currently on the verge of collapse after barely one and a half years of the NDC administration and advised the delegates to work harder after the party’s congress to help the party win the votes of the great majority of the Ghanaian people in 2012. “The NPP must come back in 2012 to inject fresh energy into the Ghanaian economy, which is now crawling under the Mills administration, and this will surely happen if we elect the most popular and experienced candidate to lead the party into that fight. He remarked that “the NDC as we all know them have never been straight in their ways and that is why it is important that our grassroots are strengthened to ensure that our victory in 2012 is not stolen from us.” The Director of Operations of Nana Akufo-Addo’s Campaign, Mr. Boakye Ayarko cautioned delegates to be mindful of people going round with the aim of tarnishing the hard won image and reputation of Nana Akufo-Addo and added that such people are mostly his detractors who seek his down fall. The upcoming general election he said was not a beauty contest for the NPP and therefore called on delegates to reject calls by some aspirants to vote for them simply because of their physical appearance. Later at the Apostolic Church in Nima, where Nana Akufo-Addo and his team met with delegates of the Ayawaso East Constituency, his presence in the area nearly caused stampede when news got to the area that he was on his way from Tiptoe. Hundreds of party faithful clad in NPP colors and dozens on motorbikes escorted him as he walked from Nima roundabout through to the Apostolic Church where he and his Victory 2012 Team met with the delegates of Ayawaso East. Source: Victory 2012 Campaign Team