A former minister under the erstwhile Kufuor-led NPP administration, Mr. Charles Bintim who openly declared his support for Alan Kyerematen during the 2007 NPP presidential primaries, has endorsed Nana Akufo-Addo as the “best candidate for the NPP in the 2012 general elections if really the party wants to wrestle power from the NDC”.
Mr.Charles Bintim, who is a former minister of Local Government, told Oman FM on Tuesday at Twifo-Praso that "even though I am a known supporter of Alan Kyeremanten in the past, today, I think Nana Addo is the best material for us if we really want to win the 2012 elections, as he has already been marketed across the length and breadth of the country”.
According to him, it will be very easy for the party to market Nana once again than changing him with a new product as it has always been difficult to market a new product as far as marketing terms are concerned.
Asked whether he has not betrayed his former friend by pitching camp with his closest rival as far as the race is concerned, Mr. Bintim said: “I am a human being and I reserve the right of association and my association with Nana Addo today can never be an act of betrayal.
We all want the party to win power in 2012 and anyone committed to that objective will know that Nana is our obvious choice. I don’t see electing a candidate other than Nana Addo, a prudent move, if we want to win power in 2012.”
He repeated his assertions at the Heman Lower Denkyira constituency where he told party delegates that he was surprised that they are still campaigning because back in the Northern Region where he comes from, the verdict is out and Nana is the only name they know. He implored delegates of the NPP to consider a candidate who can win the party power in 2012 because that is the only way the party can implement all the best policies it has for the good people of Ghana and it is obvious that Nana Addo is the one who can win us the power.
Speaking on the same platform, a former minister for the Central region Nana Ato Arthur also declared his unwavering support for Nana Addo as the surest bet for the party in the 2012 election.
According to the former Central regional minister, no presidential candidate in the history of the country has ever won on his first attempt and as such it was incumbent on the party to maintain Nana Addo as its flag bearer for the 2012 elections.
He told the delegates that once Nana Addo is elected as the NPP’s flag bearer, over 49% of the job would have been done and with hard work and dedication, victory will be the party’s in 2012. He recounted Nana Addo’s commitment and loyalty to the party over the years and said that Nana Addo has paid his dues and served the party with diligence and this is the time for delegates of the NPP to show that hard work pays.
Nana Akufo-Addo, addressing party delegates at Twifo Atti Mokwa and Heman Lower Denkyira constituencies in the Central region to canvass for votes, stressed the need for the NPP to continue to remain united even in the face of competition.
Spending almost an hour in the rain, he underscored the significance of the expanded Electoral College to include polling station executives and said “it is a sure way to victory come 2012. The people who will be selling the presidential candidate can now be part of the process of electing the candidate they will be marketing” he said.