Akufo-Addo: Election 2012 is competition of ideas

Nana Akufo-Addo

The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, is appealing to Ghanaians to refrain from every act that will derail the peace Ghana is enjoying ahead of the December elections.

In his May Day message to Ghanaian workers, the main opposition leader said the upcoming elections should be seen as 'competition of ideas and solutions to the problems facing our people.'

'Let us make this an election the results of which will respond to the aspirations of the youth of Ghana,' he said in his statement.

Below is the full statement:
On the occasion of May Day, the day set aside to celebrate workers worldwide, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and I wish to extend our gratitude to all Ghanaian workers, both in the formal and informal sectors, for their hard work and patriotic contribution towards Ghana's development over the years.

This year's celebration comes at a time when our country is preparing one more time to go to the polls. Among the challenges facing our society today are the lack of jobs for large segments of our people, high cost of living, high cost of doing business, high cost of education, high cost of accommodation and lack of access to healthcare.

These are some of the issues that must engage the attention of the Ghanaian people. Let us ensure that this election is primarily a competition of ideas and solutions to the problems facing our people. Let us make this an election the results of which will respond to the aspirations of the youth of Ghana.

The NPP is committed to providing a competent, progressive leadership that will bring about the transformation of our national economy, driven by Ghanaians for the good of Ghanaians. It is through rapid industrialization and value-addition that our economy can create the needed pool of decent jobs with decent pay across Ghana to enhance the dignity of Ghanaian labour.

The NPP is determined to forge a partnership with working people and the private sector to achieve this goal so that the concerns of labour for decent work, i.e. good jobs with good pay, strong health and safety regulations, can be satisfactorily addressed.

For us in the NPP, the security and unity of our country are crucial and we appeal humbly to each and every one of us to say and do things that will keep our politics healthy, clean, and constructive.

Maintaining law and order is key and we must all encourage those tasked to do so, to do so professionally without fear or favour. The NPP is committed to maintaining a safe and peaceful environment necessary for the progressive programmes and policies that we have for the people of Ghana. The triumph of the rule of law is what will fortify our prospects of building a prosperous, fair and just Ghanaian society.

Our message on Workers' Day to the anxious Ghanaian workforce is this: stay faithful to the Ghanaian enterprise. There is a brighter future ahead of you. The NPP is resolute in its commitment to building a society of aspirations and opportunities for the Ghanaian people.

On this festive day for working people, we in the NPP salute you and wish you God's blessing. We have all to remember that it is only by the hard work of all of us that we can build the Ghana of our dreams.

May God bless the Ghanaian worker
May God bless Ghana
Signed
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
2012 Presidential Candidate of the NPP