Don't be provoked by comments against my bid - Nana Addo tells supporters

The 2012 presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo has advised loyalists not to be irked by negative comments from opponents of his bid to lead the party into an election for the third consecutive time.

He said followers of the party must be "guided and guarded constantly by an uncompromising sense of unity, fellowship and greater purpose".

Nana Addo faces his arch-rival, Alan Kyerematen whom he defeated in two previous primaries, as well as the former Trade and Industry Minister, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, in a tough primary to be organised later this year to elect a candidate to lead the party in the 2016 presidential election.

But in Nana Addo's Easter Message to Ghanaians on Thursday, the two-time loser presidential hopeful  cautioned party faithfuls, particularly in support of his bid, that the NPP risks losing the next general elections if supporters do not tolerate opposing views.

"... I urge all NPP members, who support my bid to lead the party for the 2016 elections not to be provoked by comments or actions, and be dragged into any discourse that may damage the party's forward march to victory.''

"This is but a contest between members of one family, the Great Elephant family...The NPP has always stood for competition and choice, and I am a firm believer in these principles. Just as delegates of our party have always done, they will, at the right time, choose the candidate who they believe will best serve the interest of the party's going forward.''   

Nana Addo entreated supporters to use the Easter Festivities to renew their hope despite continued challenges facing the country.

"The people of Ghana are looking up to us to make the necessary arrangements that will give them the confidence to trust us with the mandate to serve them once again. Ghanaians are looking to the NPP to restore hope and offer the kind of purposeful leadership that will speed up the development of our nation and the prosperity of every Ghanaian".