“No President Can Impose Candidate In NPP Elections” – Akufo-Addo Clarifies

During a meeting with communicators of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Jubilee House on August 2, 2023, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo emphasized that no President can impose a candidate on the party against its wishes. He asserted that the NPP is not a party that subscribes to a cult of personality and has always respected its democratic processes.

Responding to an appeal by the NPP Director of Communications regarding the party’s conduct in the upcoming election, President Akufo-Addo expressed the need to learn from past experiences to avoid a repeat of the party’s loss in 2008. He pointed out the challenges faced during the 8-year rule of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including dumsor (power outages), mismanagement of the economy, and corruption, which adversely affected Ghana’s economic development.

Addressing internal contestations within the party, the President highlighted the importance of unity and the rejection of ethnic or religious-based campaigning. He urged party members to focus their energies on defeating their political opponents rather than engaging in divisive politics against fellow party members.

President Akufo-Addo firmly denied allegations that his government was intimidating or coercing party faithful to support a particular presidential aspirant, namely the Vice President. He assured the communicators that no one in the party had been asked to endorse any candidate, and that his government remains neutral in the internal contestations.

In conclusion, President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed the NPP’s commitment to democratic principles and urged all party members to uphold the spirit of unity, focusing on the betterment of Ghana and its citizens.

The President emphasized that the Presidential Candidate would be chosen democratically by an Electoral College consisting of approximately 250,000 individuals, and he would have just one vote like any other polling station executive in the country.

However, he expressed his commitment to vote for a candidate who can effectively unite the party and secure victory in the presidential election on December 7, 2024, defeating the perennial NDC Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama, for the third time.

President Akufo-Addo assured the audience that he is dedicated to achieving victory for the NPP in the 2024 elections and ensuring a smooth transition of power to an NPP Presidential Candidate elected by the Ghanaian people.

He urged all members of the NPP to share the same objective of winning the 2024 elections convincingly, securing a majority of seats in Parliament for the party’s parliamentary candidates, and ultimately having their flagbearer become the President of the Republic. While he welcomes constructive discussions on how to achieve this goal, he does not condone any actions that could jeopardize the party’s pursuit of victory. Instead, he seeks to collaborate with all members who share the common objective of securing success in the upcoming elections.

President Akufo-Addo addressed the state of the economy, acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine had adverse effects. Despite these challenges, Ghana had experienced remarkable economic growth for three consecutive years, with an annual GDP growth rate of 7%, a significant improvement from the 3.4% inherited from the previous Mahama-led NDC Government.

The President attributed this positive change to the Grace of Almighty God, sound policies, and hard work. He expressed confidence in sustaining this economic turnaround and affirmed the commitment to not let any obstacles deter their progress.

President Akufo-Addo emphasized that they would continue to work diligently in the remaining sixteen months of their current mandate to maintain the positive trajectory. He expressed determination to earn the trust and confidence of the Ghanaian people once again, aiming to “Break the Eight” by securing a third term for the NPP and making history together.

 

 

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