Politics of Thursday, 31 July 2014

Source: Office of Akufo-Addo

Akufo-Addo is our best hope for victory in 2016 - NPP U/E

Delegates in the Upper East Region have unanimously declared their total support for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's bid to lead the New Patriotic Party into the 2016 general elections.

All 37 delegates who will vote in the August 31 Special Electoral College, as well as over 500 delegates made this declaration at the Assembly Hall of the Bolgatanga Secondary Technical School, when Nana Akufo-Addo arrived in the region to campaign.

When asked by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was addressing delegates, to indicate by the show of hands the number of delegates who will vote for Nana Akufo-Addo, the delegates leapt from their seats with spontaneous cheers of "Nana oo Nana", indicating a 100% support for Nana Akufo-Addo.

After Nana Akufo-Addo had spoken, all constituency chairmen in the region who were present demanded to have a word with Nana Akufo-Addo, in the full glare of delegates.

Each and every constituency chairman, beginning with Mr. David Amoabi Afoko, Chairman for Builsa North and brother of NPP National Chairman, Mr. Paul Afoko, then, individually endorsed the candidature of Nana Akufo-Addo.

The Chairmen present were from all 15 constituencies -- Nabdam, Chiana Paga, Bolgatanga Central, Garu, Navrongo Central, Bawku Central, Pusiga, Bongo, Zebilla, Binduri, Talensi, Builsa North, Tempane, Builsa South and Bolgatanga East.

They indicated that all constituency executives in their region are poised to deliver a resounding victory for Nana Akufo-Addo in the Upper East Region, as they believe they he is the Party's best hope for victory in 2016.

The Regional Chairman of the Party, Adams Mahama, after the declaration by his constituency chairmen, also declared his support for Nana Akufo-Addo by stating that "I don't want money, I want the people. I want the choice of the people who is Nana Akufo-Addo," the Chairman said.

Former regional chairmen, District Chief Executives, Ministers and Members of Parliament, some of whom are delegates of the party, also declared unflinching support for Nana Addo.

The included Hon. Agyeskia Agambila, Hon. Leo Kaba, Hon. Kofi Ada, and Hon. Boniface Gambilla

"We have been with Nana in the trenches through all the years. Having known his ability, capacity and experience, we have come to one conclusion, that he is the one and only person to lead the NPP into 2016," Hon. Leo Kaba, former MP for Chiana Paga, the representative of the group, stated.

Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, Deputy Minority Leader, who also spoke at the event, indicated that all 12 NPP Members of Parliament from the three northern regions had resolved to vote and campaign for Nana Akufo-Addo to win the 2014 NPP primary and subsequently the 2016 general election. He further indicated that all 3 NPP Regional Chairmen from the North were also of the same mind.

He indicated that the NPP "does not have the time to elect a new candidate for 2016 as Ghanaians say it is Nana Akufo-Addo they want."

He appealed to the 37 delegates in the upcoming Special Electoral College to vote for Nana as "he has been very faithful to the NPP, more so in his choice of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in 2008 and still keeping faith in him till date."

Hon. Dominic Nitiwul recounted how the 3 NPP Northern Regional Chairmen in the year 2000 at the time, in the same manner, threw their support behind J.A Kufuor. With the same scenario panning out in 2014, Dominic Nitiwul indicated that this bodes well for Nana Akufo-Addo's fortunes in 2016.

The 2012 campaign manager of the NPP's presidential campaign, Boakye Agyarko, taking his turn to address the delegates, indicated that the clarion call across the nation is "No Nana, No Vote."

"We are lucky in the NPP that we have a product. The people in the market are telling us that bring that product, and we will buy it. But some people are trying to confuse you. They are telling you to bring a new product onto the market which the people in the market do not know. Will you bring that new product?" Boakye Agyarko asked, to which the answer from the delegates was a resounding "No."

"It is not about age, it is about wisdom, a sharp mind, courage and a good heart. Nana Akufo-Addo will be one of the best people that this country can ever get to lead it," he added.

On the claim by some presidential aspirants in the NPP to being able to win over floating voters, he asked "How do you want to be President, when your own people don't want you? Win your base first, and we can then be confident that you will win floating voters."

"Every time that we need someone to stand up for this Party, show courage and listen to your problems, you can count on Nana Akufo-Addo. If the court records and pink sheets show that we won election 2012, there is no need taking a step backwards. I recommend Nana Akufo-Addo as the best bet for 2016. Listen to what the ground is telling you," he concluded.