Nana Akufo-Addo completed his tour of the three Northern regions, most recently, with all eleven constituency chairmen in the region declaring their unflinching support for his bid to lead the New Patriotic Party into the December 2016 elections.
Not wanting to be outdone by their colleagues from the Northern and Upper East Regions, all eleven Chairmen, individually, declared Nana Akufo-Addo to be the only candidate who can deliver victory for the NPP in 2016.
According to the Chairmen, the consensus from grassroots of the party is what has informed their decision to back Nana Akufo-Addo.
In addition, the constituency chairmen explained that Akufo-Addo’s decision to accept the verdict handed down by the Supreme Court in the election petition, without seeking a review, has endeared him to many Ghanaians.
“They now see you (Akufo-Addo) as a man who has the well-being of the nation at heart, is not after his own selfish interests. You put the peace and stability of the nation ahead of your own interests, and because of this, Ghanaians say they will vote for you if we present you again in 2016. They tell us that ‘no nana, no vote’. So why should we bring someone else?” Ibrahim Braimah Wikana, Chairman for Lambussie told the pack gathering of delegates at the GNAT Hall in Wa.
Chairmen from Daffiama/Bussie/Issa, Lambussie, Nadowli Kaleo, Nandom, Sissala East, Sissala West, Wa Central, Wa East, Wa West, Lawra, Jirapa assured Nana Akufo-Addo that “if the Northern Region is pledging to give you 100% support, we will give you 120% support.”
Nana Akufo-Addo was accompanied on his tour of the region by Hon. Ambrose Dery, former Upper West Regional Minister and former MP for Lawra Nandom; Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, MP for Bimbilla; Hon. Matthew Nyindam, MP for Kpandai; Dr. Gyeille Nurah; Boakye Agyarko, 2012 NPP Campaign Manager; Anthony Abaayifa Karbo, former National Youth Organiser of the NPP; Francis Asenso-Boakye, Political Assistant to Nana Akufo-Addo; and Eugene Arhin, Press Secretary.
In another development, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the economic hardships, widespread corruption and rising levels of unemployment in the country only point to the fact that the “Better Ghana” agenda of the ruling National Democratic Congress government has collapsed.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, what Ghanaians are witnessing under President Mahama’s administration is a clear manifestation of his government’s failure to provide good governance for the Ghanaian people.
He made this known when he addressed delegates from the Central Region at the Manna Heights resort at Mankessim, when he took his campaign, ahead of the NPP’s August 31 Special Electoral College, to the region.
Akufo-Addo explained that the cost of living in the country keeps rising on a daily basis, whereas the incomes and salaries of ordinary Ghanaians remain low, a scenario he said is creating greater and greater hardships for Ghanaians.
Akufo-Addo assured the gathering and Ghanaians, at large, that his government will pursue an industrialisation agenda that will structurally transform the Ghanaian economy from a raw material producing one to one that focusses on value addition and exports of Ghanaian products, a situation which will create lots of jobs for Ghanaians.
To do this, he told that delegates that he will assemble a competent team, from within and outside of parliament, to give Ghana the first class government it truly deserves.
“I am not in politics to enrich myself or my family. I came into politics to serve the people of Ghana. Give me the opportunity once more and I assure you that I will give the party victory, and also to realise this vision for Ghana,” Nana Addo said.
At the heart of the transformation agenda, Nana Addo indicated, will be to ensure that every child has access to good quality education. “Free SHS will become a reality under my government,” he said.
Nana Akufo-Addo thanked the region for the 76% margin of victory he received from them in 2010, urging it to replicate and better this feat this time round.
In concluding, Akufo-Addo reiterated his appeal to NPP national officers to cease the ongoing “media war”, urging them to resolve whatever issues they may have by resorting to the party’s structures.
“Join me in making this appeal to our national officers. Let us forget about press conferences, radio and TV interviews and newspaper articles about ourselves. The target of such media interventions should always the NDC and not ourselves,” he stressed.
Present at Thursday’s meeting were, amongst others, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, 2008 and 2012 running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo; Robert Kutin, NPP Central Regional Chairman; Hon. Kennedy Agyepong, MP for Assin Central; Hon. Hawa Koomson, MP for Awutu Senya East; Hon. Dr. Ato Arthur, MP for KEEA; Hon. Benjamin Kofi Ayeh, MP for Upper Denkyira West; Hon. Nana Amoako, MP for Upper Denkyira East; Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, MP for Takoradi; Kofi Atta Nketia, Westen Regional NPP Chairman; Hon. Cecilia Dapaah, former Minister and former MP for Bantama; Hon. Kwamena Bartels, former Minister and former MP for Ablekuma North and member of National Council of the Central Region; Hon. John Kwasi Agyabeng, former MP for Agona East; Mr. Fred Oware, former 1st Vice Chair of the NPP; Mr. Ekow Dankwah-Smith, former Central Regional NPP Chairman; Hon. Isaac Edumadze, former Central Regional Minister and former MP; and Hon. Sam Quarm, former MP for Gomoa East.