Nana Rocks NPP

Nana Akufo-Addo presenting his nomination forms  to Kwabena Agyepong yesterday

The 2012 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, shook the party to its foundation when he stormed its Asylum Down headquarters in Accra to file his nominations for the upcoming flagbearership race.

The filing of nominations closed yesterday after a month, with four other aspirants, namely former Trade Minister, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku; MP for Asuogyaman, Kofi Osei-Ameyaw; MP for Essikado Ketan and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Ghartey; and former MP for Mfantseman West Stephen Asamoah Boateng popularly known as Asabee, also managing to file, in addition to Alan Kyerematen and Francis Addai Nimo, who completed the process last Thursday.

With all the seven persons who picked nomination forms to contest the flagbearership race of the party returning the forms, the NPP has become GH¢595,000 (¢5.95billion) richer.

As early as 8:00am, the supporters of Nana Akufo-Addo, the leading contender for the flagbearership slot, had started arriving at the event venue to see their hero file his nomination, originally scheduled for 12:00pm, amidst brass band music, singing and dancing, with a pick-up van mounted with loud public address system.

Mood
Even before the man arrived at the venue, the entire enclave of the headquarters of the party was packed to capacity with people including Members of Parliament (MPs) waiting for him.

The crowd went agog when Nana Akufo-Addo finally arrived in the company of his two-time running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, with people virtually falling over each other in an attempt not to just catch a glimpse of him but to also shake hands with him.

Most were clad in party colours and white T-shirts, some with the inscription 'Shei Nana 2016'.

With all the security, Akufo-Addo still had a tough time meandering through the crowd to the conference room of the headquarters where the actual event took place.

Process
He was met on arrival by General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong and other national executives of the NPP including 1 st Vice Chairman Freddie Blay, National Treasurer Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah and Nasara Coordinator Kamal Deen.

Nana Akufo-Addo promised to run a clean and vigorous campaign after submitting his forms with the required GH¢75,000 filing fee, with a pledge to abide by the rules and regulations of the primary, as set out by the party, calling on his supporters to do likewise.

The General Secretary of the party subsequently issued him with a receipt and welcomed him into the race.

Concern
NPP supporters
The 2012 NPP presidential candidate decried the prevailing conditions in the country under the watch of President John Dramani Mahama and his ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He however asked Ghanaians to take heart and keep faith with the firm conviction that the country would get back on its feet if the NPP was voted into office in 2016.

Addressing the cheering party faithful and anxious crowd after going through the filing process, he gave his word thus: 'Ghana will work again under my leadership.'

In view of this, he said the party would put in place a dynamic and competent team to implement plans designed to transform the lives of Ghanaians to develop in Ghana a free, democratic, modern African state - one that can hold its own in a competitive world.

Hope
The entire country, according to him, was therefore banking its hopes and aspirations on the NPP to offer the leadership that would rescue Ghana from a clueless and floundering NDC government, saying, 'Let's get together and get Ghana working again.'

He assured the charged crowd that “the NPP is coming back to power in 2016, to continue from where President Kufuor left off” and “Akufo-Addo is the man for the future. Come high, come low we're winning 2016.'

'There is hope on the horizon. The NPP is coming back to power in the year 2017,' he emphasised.

Earlier, former Trade Minister Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, who also wants to lead the party ahead of the 2016 general elections, went to the party headquarters to file his nominations.

Later in the day, others including MP for Asuogyaman Kofi Osei Ameyaw, Joe Ghartey, Stephen Asamoah Boateng who responds to the cheer 'Asabee' with 'we go do', also filed their nominations hours before time.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu & Ernest Nutsugah