More agitations for Ga-Dagme NPP running mate

-GROUP WANTS AYIKOI OTOO TO PARTNER NANA

Members of the Ga-Dagme community continue to offer reasons why the opposition New Patriotic should consider changing the status quo and turn to the Greater Accra Region for a running mate to partner Nana Akufo-Addo for the 2012 general elections.

The leadership of the NPP has resolved to maintain the old tradition of selecting a Northern Muslim as the running mate.

But a group calling itself “Ga-Dagme Initiative” believes the party’s flagbearer should give the need for change a second thought and consider former Justice Minister and Attorney General Nii Ayikoi Otoo as his running mate.

A release signed by Nii Nanka-Bruce, spokesperson of the group, noted that because the Greater Accra region “decides the fate of every political party” it will be prudent on the part of the NPP to consider their suggestion.

“We the people of the Ga-Dagme Traditional Area have made all the necessary checks of the Party (NPP), particularly in the Greater Accra Region regarding the running mate issue and our findings have established that it is indeed the Region that decides the fate of every political party.

“Further more, election results emanating from the Electoral Commission give enough credence to the fact that any party which ignores Greater Accra Region cannot win National Elections. Thus, it is important that the entire family of NPP take a critical look at the above factors and start serious work at getting a Ga-Dagme Running Mate for the 2012 General Elections,” the group maintained.

According to the group, the fact that the party could not win the 2008 election with Dr Mahamadu Bawumia as Nana Akufo-Addo’s running mate supports the need for second look at the status quo.

The Ga-Dagme Initiative believes the time has come for “the National Executive Council and the Flag bearer to play the Ga-Dagme card, in the name of former Attorney-General Nii Ayikoi Otoo for one-touch victory for Nana Akufo-Addo’s presidential bid.”

The group noted that former President Kufuor enjoyed massive support, and became more popular, among the Ga-Dagme community when he appointed Nii Ayikoi Otoo as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, adding that the “people rallied behind him until the reshuffle.”

The group recounted the close association between Nana Akufo-Addo and Nii Ayikoi Otoo in their work at the Ghana Bar Association, adding that when the two are presented as the NPP’s ticket, “the Ga-Dagme people will give the party massive votes for total victory in 2012.”

Nii Ayikoi Otoo served as the Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the GBA when Nana Akufo-Addo was the President of the association. He later took over from Nana Akufo-Addo as the Regional President when his term ended. The two also worked together on the National Council of the GBA.

The former Attorney-General is currently the Chairman of the Constitutional Committee of the NPP, a position Nana Akufo-Addo occupied previously. He was also a member of the party’s Vetting Committee that vetted the presidential hopefuls for the 2011 primary.

Nii Nanka-Bruce,

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