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22.10.2007 NPP

Time For NPP To Honour Nana Akufo-Addo

By Daily Guide
Time For NPP To Honour Nana Akufo-Addo
22.10.2007 LISTEN

Dear Editor,

One particular name on the lips of the majority of Ghanaians as the man who is expected to take over from President Kufuor in 2009 is Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Indeed, there seems to be a general consensus among the good people of Ghana - the ordinary people on the streets, the clergy, the academia, students, the rank and file of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and even the opposition that the man who is widely seen as the second most popular and influential politician in the nation after President Kufuor is 'destined' to be the next President of Ghana from 2009.

Judging by the development on the political terrain, indications are that the broad masses of Ghanaians are ready to vote Nana Akufo-Addo as the nation's next President, as a gesture of honouring him for his meritorious contributions to the political and socio-economic development of the nation.

I am convinced that the desire of the people to elect Nana as the next President is borne out of the fact that they do not want Ghana to be seen as a nation that is not worth dying for.

Nana Akufo-Addo's frontline role in charting the nation's democratic path is something every meaningful Ghanaian is enthused about.

Throughout his entire adult life, Nana Akufo-Addo has selflessly dedicated himself to championing agenda meant to serve the interest of the good people of Ghana.

At age 32, he demonstrated his political leadership and patriotism when as the General Secretary of the People's Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ), he successfully led the 'NO' campaign against the referendum organized by the Acheampong regime to introduce a Union Government (UNIGOV) to entrench his dictatorial government.

This was what brought down the Acheampong regime and paved the way for the restoration of multi-party democratic rule in 1979.

In the 1980's and 1990's, Nana resorted to the law courts to defend the constitutions of the Third and Forth Republics, and to promote civil liberties and human rights in the country.

This was during an era where many Ghanaians had been cowed into silence and inaction by the then callous, sadistic, repressive and suppressive regime of J.J. Rawlings.

As the spokesman for the Alliance For Change, Nana's inspirational drive got multitudes of Ghanaians onto the street to demonstrate against the harsh dictatorial policies of the Rawlings Regime.

The sheer bravery, avowed determination and patriotism of Nana Akufo-Addo and others like Late Prof. Albert Adu-Boahen, brought an end to the culture of silence that had engulfed the nation for long, and further set the stage for the nation's eventual return to multi-party democratic rule, and by extension the current democratic dispensation.

It is therefore not out of place if Ghanaians should now agree among themselves that it is time to honour this illustrious son of the land by voting him as the next President.

This is something the delegates to the NPP's December Congress should not seek to prevent. We are all aware that because of the frontline role Nana was playing in NPP, his Ringway Hotel was bombed, which eventually closed down.

Honouring a party hero like Nana Akufo-Addo after the party had done a similar thing for Mr. Peter Mac Manu, now the National Chairman, would help to inspire many party faithful to continue sacrificing for the NPP, knowing for sure that their contributions and sacrifices will one day be recognized and rewarded accordingly.

The general feeling in the NPP is that the party's foot-soldiers and founding members have not been recognized since the party came into power.

The delegates should therefore be careful not to elect a flagbearer who is a latter day apostle. Doing this will create the impression that the NPP is not a party that is worth dying for.

Apart from the fact that Nana Akufo-Addo has what it takes to defeat Prof. Atta Mills in the 2008 elections, and move ahead to provide the kind of political leadership required to take Ghana to the next level of her development, his contribution to the cause of the NPP provides a strong basis for the NPP to select him as the flagbearer.

As a founding member of the NPP, Nana has over the years remained very instrumental in the organization of the party, especially in terms of providing resources to get the party running.

In 1992, when things were very tough for the NPP, he provided a chunk of the funds that was used to organize the party's first National Delegates Congress that elected the Late Prof. Albert Adu Boahen as the Presidential candidate.

After losing his bid for the party's flagbearership against then Mr. Kufuor in 1998, Nana never felt discouraged, but rallied behind Mr. Kufuor and worked tirelessly to ensure victory for the NPP in the 2000 elections. This was when there were speculations all over that he would form his own party to contest the elections.

That Nana is a team player and a selfless apostle of the NPP was demonstrated by his public declaration of support for President Kufuor's second term flagbearership of the NPP for the 2004 elections.

Nana Akufo-Addo's instrumental role in the NPP's 2000 and 2004 electoral victories, especially his exceptional way of moving the electorate with his' electrifying and inspirational 'platform' speeches, is also something the entire rank and file of the party have always been enthused about.

In short, Nana Akufo-Addo has done so much for his party and country. He has indeed demonstrated an exceptional political leadership and patriotism as far as his role in charting the nation's political cause has been concerned.

The time is ripe for him to be honoured and elected the President of the country he has selflessness dedicated his entire adult life to serving.

Delegates to the NPP's December Congress should consider his sacrifice for the party and select him as the flagbearer, in recognition of his contribution to the cause of the party.

Doing this honour to such an illustrious apostle of the party will inspire and motivate others to continue to "die" for the party, as they will see the NPP as a party that is worth dying for because "a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for"

(I. K. Adams)
Concerned NPP Member

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