Anyone who contests Akufo-Addo will be floored - Effah Dartey

Former Member of Parliament for Berekum and Deputy minister of Interior in the Kufuor administration, Rtd. Captain Nkrahbea Effah Dartey, says anyone who intends to contest Nana Akufo-Addo as flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party in 2016, will be floored.

According to the leading member of the main opposition party, Nana Addo’s decision to contest the results of the 2012 election in court and his gracious acceptance of the Supreme Court’s verdict had shot up the statesman’s popularity significantly.

His pronouncements come after varying conflicted views on whether Nana Addo should run a third time for president. Other prominent names such as Kofi Konadu Apraku and Alan Kyeremanteng are said to be preparing to contest for the flagbearership.

However, Effah Dartey believes that “Ghana’s constitution says you can become president for two terms, but the NPP allows a candidate to contest as many times as he wants if he is willing and able”.

“In my personal opinion”, he added, “I think the way Nana conducted himself during the election; the way he accepted the results has made him very popular, if you go on the streets, you will see that Nana is probably more popular than the president, anyone who contests him, will be barking up the wrong tree” .

As to his own political ambitions, Nkrabea said he has come under intense pressure to run for the position of general secretary in the New Patriotic Party. He said although he is not interested in running for the presidential flag bearer slot, he has been approached by many to contest Kwadwo Owusu Afriye’s position in the upcoming congress of the party.

He said the current General Secretary of the NPP had performed well amidst a number of challenges.

“Sir John has contributed his quota, I don’t know if anyone is contesting him, but I believe that if you have performed well, the people will vote for you. The track record will speak for itself,” he said.