AKUFO-ADDO CALLS ON NPP NATIONAL OFFICERS

The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday, October 21, paid a courtesy call on the national officers of the Party to assure them of his fullest co-operation ahead of the upcoming 2016 general election.

The meeting, which was held at the Party Headquarters at the behest of Nana Akufo-Addo, saw all but two of the Party's officers attending, with the Chairman of the National Council of Elders, Mr. C.K Tedam, also in attendance.

At the meeting, chaired by NPP National Chairman, Mr. Paul Afoko, Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that the sole motive for his request was to assure the national officers of his “fullest co-operation, so that the common endeavour of achieving victory in 2016, and producing a good government come January 2017 will be realised.”

Nana Akufo-Addo further assured the executives that “you will find nothing lacking in me as far as co-operation goes. We are to work together to change Ghana and bring about the transformation of our country. So my main purpose here, this morning, is to introduce myself to you, assure you of my fullest co-operation and to let you know that I am ready to play my part in the common agenda of victory in 2016.”

Speaking on behalf of the national officers, Ms. Otiko Afisa Djaba, the National Women's Organiser of the Party, congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo for his emphatic victory in last Saturday's presidential primary, stating that the party has spoken clearly in one unequivocal vocie.

“It is always said that the voice of the people is the voice of God. It is therefore the responsibility of all of us to bring NPP into power in 2016. We have to bury all our differences and bring the NPP into power,” she stressed.

On his part, Mr. C.K. Tedam, a veteran activist of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia political tradition, advised the gathering to do everything humanly possible to make sure the party wins 2016, adding that “united we stand, divided we fall”, a charge to Akufo-Addo and the national officers to work hand-in-hand to ensure victory in 2016.

Giving his concluding remarks, Mr. Paul Afoko also assured Nana Akufo-Addo that the entire party machinery will be entirely supportive of his candidature, with a charge to the gathering to ensure that true meaning is given to the 'unity' that the party is seeking.

“This unity we are all talking about, we must live it and actively work to ensure that we have the unity. We (national officers) can assure you (Nana Akufo-Addo) that we will work together to make sure that the NPP wins 2016. The NPP has no choice but to win 2016. The NPP and Ghana cannot afford another four years of this NDC government,” Mr. Paul Afoko said.

Nana Akufo-Addo was accompanied to the meeting by Hon. Frema Opare, former Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon and former Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare; Mr. Victor Newman, his long-time associate and founding member of the Party; Mr. Francis Asenso-Boakye, Political Assistant to Nana Akufo-Addo; and Mr. Eugene Arhin, Media Secretary.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, Mr. Alan Kyerematen, an aspirant in the just ended NPP primary, together with members of his team including Nana Ohene Ntow, Hon. Kofi Dzamesi, Mr. Moses Osei Bonsu (“Patak”) and Mr. Philip Longdon, also called on Nana Akufo-Addo to pledge his and the support of his team to ensuring that the NPP, with Nana Akufo-Addo as its presidential candidate, emerged victorious in the 2016 election.

Nana Akufo-Addo re-echoed statements made by Alan Kyerematen at the Efua Sutherland Children's park to the effect that the tradition of the NPP has been that “after competition comes co-operation.”

“The Ghanaian people are expecting a lot from us. It requires that those of us in the leadership of the party work together to fulfil their desires and wishes. Anybody who knows the two of us knows there is no difficulty in us working together. We have done so in the past and I have every expectation that we will do so again closely in the future to bring about change in the country. Ghanaians are desperately looking for a change and it is up to us to ensure that they get it,” Nana Addo said.