Accra, May 13, GNA - The Council of Accra Muslim Chiefs on Tuesday urged Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Flag-bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to consider the choice of Alhaji Saddique Abubakar Boniface, Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources as his running-mate for the December 2008 Presidential polls.

"We pray that as the NPP looked for a running mate, Nana's (Akufo-Addo) choice should be Boniface", Alhaji Ali Khadiri English, a spokesman for the Muslim chiefs said in Accra at the Minister's residence in Accra.

"There are many possible people for the position, but we want Boniface.

"Our reason is simple! Boniface is a down-to-earth man. He is trustworthy, affable and good to all manner of people. He has a certain following which the party cannot ignore...And his character is impeccable. That is why we want him".

We will feel at home if he partners Nana Akufo-Addo in the December elections", he said.

The Muslim Chiefs were at the Minister's residence to congratulate him (Boniface) for his weekend landslide win over his opponents at the NPP primaries in the Salaga constituency in the Northern Region, and to express their support to him to eye the party's number two position. Boniface polled 118 votes against his contestant's 9 votes. Alhaji Boniface on his part, expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him by the Muslim leaders and pledged to support and champion the cause of the Muslim community wherever and in whatever capacity he found himself. He prayed Allah to reward them for the trust they held for him and asked them to lend their prayers for his success in whatever endeavour he undertook.

The Minister refuted allegations that he won the primaries because he had hosted the delegates at his residence in the constituency. "These allegations are untrue. I never camped anyone and the media were there to verify this. "It was the decision of the delegates to vote massively for me. It was absolutely at their discretion to decide on whom to vote for...And they voted for me". 13 May 08