Akufo-Addo backs fasting, prayers for ailing NPP

The flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo is in support of fasting and prayers for the Elephant family as they go through crisis ahead of the 2016 elections.

The Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition is at crossroads as party supporters gang up against the national chairman and general secretary Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong respectively over the killing of the party’s Upper East regional chairman Alhaji Adams Mahama.

The Women’s Organiser of the NPP Otiko Djaba has described the internal wrangling as a “spiritual bomb” which requires prayers.

Addressing the press at the party’s headquarters in Accra, Friday, Akufo-Addo said the main opposition party “must embrace the initiative”.

“I will not tolerate chaos within our party. The recriminations against ourselves in this period of healing, I repeat, must stop. On the contrary, we should all embrace the laudable initiative of the National Women’s Organiser who is launching, as from this Sunday here at the party headquarters, a week of fasting and prayers for the welfare of the NPP. I have no doubt that, with the help of Almighty God and by our collective determination, the storms that are currently buffeting the great, historic movement that the NPP represents will soon subside so that it can fulfil its mission of developing our nation in freedom,” the former Attorney General said.

According to him, “The NPP is not the first party to face crisis and the NPP will not be the last party to come out of its crisis stronger. I want to assure you. I am confident of our capacity to overcome and we shall overcome.”

He has therefore called for calm as the security agencies investigate Mahama’s death.

Nana Addo concluded: "Let me end with a word from Holy Scripture and pardon me that I take the liberty of amending it slightly to make my point. Psalm 122, verses 6-8. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: Pray for the peace of the NPP, Pray for the peace of Ghana, May they prosper who love you. Peace be within our walls, Peace be within our homes and offices.

"Prosperity within our country and our communities. For the sake of my brethren and companions, for the sake of my colleagues in the NPP and in our country, I will now say, Peace be within us."