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24.10.2014 Politics

Nana Picks Bawumia

By Daily Guide
Nana Picks Bawumia
24.10.2014 LISTEN

Nana Akufo-Addo congratulating Dr Mahamudu Bawumia after his introduction yesterday

The National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday accepted the nomination of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia by the newly elected flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as his running mate for the 2016 general elections.

This was after Nana Akufo-Addo had presented Bawumia's name to the council at its meeting yesterday.

The National Council is the highest decision-making body in the NPP after congress.

At a meeting, Dr Bawumia's nomination was unanimously endorsed by the members who included former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

Addressing the media after the meeting—which was held behind closed-doors—the re-elected flagbearer said, 'As required by our party's constitution, I have a few minutes ago, introduced my nominee as running mate in the 2016 elections to the National Council and I am happy to tell you that there was a unanimous and enthusiastic endorsement of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia,' to a thunderous applause from party members present.

It was the third time Nana Akufo-Addo had nominated Dr Bawumia, an astute economist and former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, as his running mate.

'Prophet' Bawumia
Nana could not hide his excitement having Dr Bawumia by his side since the year 2008. According to him, 'His credentials as top notch economist were always known to all and have been reinforced by his analytical work and performance in this sector in the past five years, earning him the sobriquet of 'Dr Prophet,'' Nana Addo articulated.

Dr Bawumia had delivered a series of lectures on Ghana's economy where his predictions on the direction the government had taken had come to pass like a prophecy.

According to Nana, 'It has been a great joy to see him blossom as a consummate politician as well and won the affection of Ghanaians'—reminiscing how the entire nation admired his performance in the witness box during the election petition hearing in the Supreme Court last year, which earned him the nickname 'Dr Pink Sheet.'

Apart from that, Nana Akufo-Addo said, 'The dire situation the country has been plunged into by the incompetence of John Dramani Mahama's administration makes the presence of Dr Bawumia on the NPP presidential ticket even more appropriate.' The economy is going to be the main battleground for the 2016 elections.'

With the kind of chemistry between the two of them, Nana Akufo-Addo was confident 'he will make an outstanding Vice President of the Republic and good manager of the economy who will help me reverse the decline of the economy, if the Almighty God and the Ghanaian people favour us with the opportunity of service, come January 2017.'

Confidence
With the backing of all those who contested him for the standard bearer position—Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Francis Addai-Nimoh, Joe Ghartey, Kofi Osei-Ameyaw,  Stephen Asamoa Boateng and Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku—the NPP flagbearer was optimistic 'we are all fully committed to the success of the NPP project for 2016.'

He announced that 'the formal campaign team and its structure will be outdoored in due course after the necessary consultations have been concluded.'

Present were party bigwigs, including former President Kufuor; C.K. Tedam, Chairman of the Council of Elders; Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, former Mayor of Accra; Hackman Owusu Agyemang, former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing; Harona Esseku, former National Chairman; Yaw Osafo-Maafo, former Minister of Finance and a host of others.

Moments after his confirmation, Dr Bawumia issued a statement and granted interview to the media in which he expressed his profound gratitude to Nana Akufo-Addo and the National Council of the NPP for the confidence reposed in him.

'No candidate in our political landscape has demonstrated this consistency and faith in his running mate; and I am truly grateful once again for the opportunity to partner him to restore hope to the Ghanaian people and to deliver a competent and honest leadership which can alleviate the undeserved suffering of the Ghanaian people,' he underscored.

Appreciation
'I thank the National Executive Committee and the entirety of the New Patriotic Party for their support, prayers and advice and pledge to continue to work with them and all concerned to support Nana Akufo-Addo and the party in prosecuting an effective campaign and strengthening the party to ensure that we emerge victorious and are declared victorious, come 2016, Insha Allah', he emphasised.

As the running mate, Dr Bawumia said, 'I will be supporting the presidential candidate and the party to challenge the NDC on its record and to show that ultimately Ghanaians will be better off under a Nana Akufo-Addo NPP-led government.'

Commitment
Aside that, he indicated, 'I would also work to consolidate the gains that the NPP has made in recent elections while also focusing on regaining the grounds we have lost in other parts of the country.'

The renowned economist continued, 'I am in politics because like many Ghanaians of my generation and the youth in general, I refuse to accept that what we are witnessing today in terms of our economic and political governance and the attendant marginalisation, joblessness and suffering of so many of our people, is the best that Ghana can do.'

Call
He has therefore called on 'everyone, the party, the media, all concerned Ghanaians, to come on board this campaign and help us restore confidence in our governance.'

He stressed, 'The good people of Ghana cannot afford four more years of being steered in the wrong direction.

'I call on all Ghanaians to support us to win the 2016 elections so we can collectively build a nation that we can all be proud of, and a nation where every young person desirous of working will find the skills and employment with a decent wage; a Ghana where we do not only build a future for our youth, but also build our youth for the future; a Ghana where the basics like water, electricity and sanitation are available; a Ghana where our hard-working entrepreneurs can easily access capital; a Ghana where our young people will be well-educated and empowered to better compete in the global economy.'

Charge
'Dr Pink Sheets' charged Ghanaians, 'Come on board this train and let us build a Ghana where we are certain that our taxes and resources will eventually find their way back to us in the form of quality and affordable education and healthcare, jobs, roads, reliable energy, etc. and not find their way into the pockets of those managing the resources.'

Dr Bawumia and Nana Akufo-Addo, together with the leadership of the party, would today attend an afternoon Muslim prayer at the Central Mosque in Accra to pray with the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, for God's blessings.

The NPP would hold an interdenominational service at the National Theatre on Tuesday, November 4, to also seek God's face on the party and on its ticket, and to thank Him for the peace and success of the just-ended presidential primary.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu

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