Politics of Tuesday, 29 July 2014

Source: office of Akufo-Addo

More support for Nana Addo

Regional Chairmen, 34 constituency Chairmen of Greater Accra, and 107 NPP Members of Parliament on Tuesday declared their overwhelming support for the candidature of Nana Akufo-Addo ahead of the October 18 presidential primary of the party.

Speaking publicly at an event to kick-start Nana Akufo-Addo's campaign, they said, as delegates, their duty is to vote on behalf of their constituents and that the people they represent have told them to vote for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The event, which saw the streets of Accra brightened by the blue, red and white colours of the NPP was held at Akwei's House in Odododiodio.

The Chairman and constituency executives of the Odododiodio constituency, who began the rounds of endorsement, explained that Nana Akufo-Addo's message is now resonating than ever with his constituents, and when the party consulted the people in their communities it was more than clear that the people are calling for an Akufo-Addo presidency.

So for the 2014 presidential primary, he said, "the Odododiodio constituency unequivocally supports the candidature of Nana Akufo-Addo and will make sure he wins the 2016 election because we want is power."

All 34 constituency chairmen in the Greater Accra region, headed by the "Chairman of Chairmen", Mr. Bella of Ablekuma Nouth, also threw their support behind Nana Akufo-Addo.

Chairman Bella, who previously supported Mr. Alan Kyerematen in the previous 2010 contest, noted that all 34 chairmen won their positions as Constituency Chairmen in the region solely because they had pledged to make Nana Akufo-Addo President.

"Ghanaians and our constituents told us that they will not vote for NPP if we do not bring Nana Akufo-Addo. We don't want any experiments in 2016 and we can assure all of you gathered here that all 34 constituency chairmen in the Greater Accra Region will vote for Nana Akufo-Addo," Chairman Bella added.

On the part of the Members of Parliament, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who was accompanied by 106 MPs, recounted how she was ridiculed when she indicated that over 100 NPP MPs support Nana Addo. In fact, she said she was even modest then.

"What you are seeing here today is a clear sign, genuine support. Our hope is Nana Addo. We are MPs who listen to the grassroots and listen to the people we represent. From all parts of the country, everybody you meet is saying they want Nana Akufo-Addo," Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.

"We will do what the people of Ghana want," she assured.

Dominic Nitiwul, the Deputy Minority Leader also added his voice to it by saying the country wants an Akufo-Addo-Bawumia presidency to rescue Ghana and bring back hope and relief.

He assured Nana Akufo-Addo and all NPP members gathered that, "you cannot get 5 MPs who will not vote for Nana Akufo-Addo. Parliament is united behind Nana Akufo-Addo. The time of the other 6 candidates is not now, their time will come. We want to win the majority in parliament. We want to sit on the right side of the speaker, we want to be in government and not opposition. The party is united in one voice. We are going to bring Nana Akufo-Addo."

The Bimbilla MP had some words of advice for the those contesting Nana Akufo-Addo.

"Be careful of what you say about Nana Akufo-Addo because he will be President in 2017," he said.

The Chairman of the Nhyiaeso constituency of the NPP, Mr. Kofi Agyei, alias "GeoKad", also endorsed the candidature of Nana Akufo-Addo.

"Geo Kad" in his own words told the gathering that "Since 1998, I have never supported Nana. Nana won in all but one constituency in Ashanti region in the 2010 primary, that was my constituency. Today I can assure you that the door is open for Nana in my constituency. We have to think of power and not our selfish interests. We presented Nana in 2008, 2012 and I believe that in 2016, Nana Akufo-Addo Nana Addo will become President in Ghana.

John Kumah, a former spokesperson for Alan Kyerematen, also declared his support for Nana. He noted that Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Hon. Gyamfi who is the Odotobri Chairman, Chairman Wontumi, Andy Kankam, who were once vociferous against the candidature of Nana Akufo-Addo are now working for him

"What Ghanaians are saying is that they did not know Nana was such a patriotic Ghanaian. His actions after the election petition showed that he always puts Ghana first and not his personal interests and will vote for him in 2016. It is not surprising, therefore, that Ghanaians are now referring to him as 'Aboterewura'", he stated.

Not to be left out, the Regional Chairman of the NPP in the Greater Accra Region, Mr. Ishmael Ashitey, appealed to the people in the region to support the NPP and Nana Akufo-Addo bacuse "times are changing in Ghana."

The primaries is not our concern, he said, adding that we are focusing on the 2016 election because it is a done deal for Nana Akufo-Addo.

All regional executives, led by the Regional Organser, Archibald Cobbina, who was a kingpin in the Alan Kyerematen campaign in 2010, also their support for Nana Addo.

"We are united and solidly behind Nana AKufo-Addo and I am personally going to support Nana Akufo-Addo," Archibald Cobbina concluded.