Joe Ghartey Withdraws From NPP Final Race And Pledges Support For Akufo-Addo

Former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and MP For Essikado Constituency of the Western Region, Joe Ghartey, has thrown in the towel withdrawing completely from the NPP final race to select the favourite candidate among the final 5-candidates scheduled for October 18th 2014.

According to Joe Ghartey, the overwhelming support Nana Akufo-Addo received in Sunday's Super Delegates Congress indicated he was the preferred favourite to lead the party.

He was speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokooo Morning Show.

"With the kind of results I witnessed yesterday at the special congress, I think it is only wise to withdraw from the race and rally support for Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the third time,'' Joe Ghartey stated.

Nana Akufo-Addo received a massive endorsement from special delegates of the NPP.

Out of 740 ballots cast, Nana Akufo-Addo polled 598 votes, representing 80.78%, with his closest contender Alan Kyerematen obtaining a paltry tally of 59 votes representing 7.98 per cent. Addai Nimoh and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joe Ghartey both obtained 22 votes each which is 2.98per cent of total votes cast, while Osei Ameyaw managed 16 votes (2.17%) to pick up the last ticket to the October 18 national delegates' conference.

Former Information Minister Stephen Asamoah Boateng (13 votes) and former Trade Minister Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku (10 votes) have dropped out of the race with 1.76% and 1.35% respectively.

Joe Ghartey was born on June 15, 1961. He hails from Shama, Western Region of Ghana. Mr. Ghartey had his secondary education at Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast. He obtained his LLB (Hons.) in 1986 from the University of Ghana and BL from the Ghana School of Law in 1988.

Joe Ghartey, joined the firm of Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co. He left this firm after seven years and co-founded, Ghartey & Ghartey in 1994. He was the Senior Partner, Ghartey & Ghartey Company (Barristers & Solicitors) before he became an MP.

Joe Ghartey also lectured in various fields. He was the adjutant lecturer of Investment law at the University of Ghana Business School. He has also been an adjutant lecturer in Corporate Governance at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).