Akufo-Addo battle ready for Mahama

The 2012 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given credence to his intent to contest for the position again, by picking up nomination forms at the party headquarters on Thursday.

Nana Addo has remained the party’s most marketed candidate for the upcoming elections, after winning international admiration for resorting to the court to contest the results of the 2012 general elections, after his political opponent, John Dramani, was declared the winner by the Electoral Commission.

After losing the Supreme Court case, many were those who thought the astute lawyer would announce his retirement from politics, but he did not do that. He instead told his followers that he was going to have a rest in London and would announce his political future in due course.

After his return from London, the politician, with over 40years of experience, declared his intention to contest the flagbearership again. “I want to be part of winning the next challenge, which is to build a modern industrialised society in Ghana, where every citizen has the opportunity to prosper. This is the driving force of my life. I will stay true to what I believe in, no matter the pressures to do what is convenient.

“I am clear and convinced about the direction in which we must go as a country. I have been consistent on this because I believe in it. I am convinced Ghana can do better than this current state of affairs. “And I believe we can make the change that will make us better than this. We have an unfinished business. And, I am ready to get back to work," he said at a news conference to announce his bid.

Political analysts say Nana has a better chance of unseating the National Democratic Congress but he would have to first cross the hurdle in his own party, by beating all contestants for the flagbearer position, a mission which is possible. Meanwhile, a former Information Minister under the erstwhile Kufour administration, Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, who could not even retain the Mfantsiman parliamentary seat for the NPP, shocked many party followers when he appeared at the party head office to pick up nomination forms yesterday.

Earlier in the week, former Member of Parliament for Offinso North, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku and sitting MP for Asuogyaman, Kofi Osei Ameyaw, went to the party office to pick up nomination forms.

Asamoah Boateng, Dr. Apraku and Osei Ameyaw are seen as remote contenders, who are only adding up to the numbers. Their decision to ‘donate’ Ghc10,000 for picking up the forms and Ghc75,000 as filing fees would, however, help the party to raise funds.

Alan Kojo Kyerematen, a serial presidential candidate loser, but seen as Nana Addo’main opponent, is yet to pick his nomination form.