I will never support him - says Apraku of Akufo-Addo

An NPP presidential aspirant, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku has denied vehemently a newspaper report that quoted him as saying he would support Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, should there be a run-off in the NPP congress in December.

"This is childish, how can I support him when I am winning? I never said I supported Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and I will never support him," he said in an interview from London. Dr. Apraku accused Nana Akufo-Addo of using ?his paper? to win support for him, because he is sinking.

Over a clear telephone line he told selected newsmen in Accra that Nana Akufo-Addo "thought he was leading and? now that he is sinking" forget about those polls of yours (referring to the media polls)?Nana Addo is really sinking; he is not even in the second position."

Dr. Apraku said that he was not considering the possibility of a run-off nor would he support any one in the event of one.

"I am expecting a one-touch victory. No run-off", he said confidently. It was published in a newspaper that Dr. Apraku had said that in the event of a run-off he would throw his weight behind Nana Akufo-Addo

He said, "Nana has traveled the length and breadth of the country and everywhere he goes, they tell him that Apraku is leading in the race, so he is using this to win support, but I will never support Nana Addo?.

Commenting on Nana Akufo-Addo?s chances, he said, ?He is my friend and a good party man but compared to me, he cannot win the congress, neither can he win the general elections for the party. I Kofi Konadu Apraku, I am going to win both?. ?Believe me?, he said, ?there is no best person than Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, MP for Offinso who prospective delegates have pledged their support and willingness to choose as the presidential flag bearer of the NPP?.

He said, If Nana Akufo-Addo, could be objective, he would confess that Dr. Apraku is leading him in the race. Dr. Apraku is heading to Washington DC this morning to continue his campaign; he explained that during his campaign meeting in London, the party's supporters asked him what he thought of Nana Akufo-Addo, and ?I told them that he is the only person in the race that I competed with in 1998, and that he is a good man?Though he is a brother and was second in that race, he is going to lose to me?President Kufuor became third in 1992 and won in 1998, so Apraku who became third in 1998, will win in 2007?.

The Offinso North MP said most people have shallow judgments where the NPP presidential primaries are concerned, which will pave the way for a shocker. He said that, 'The delegates will shock you all; they are poised to select the best and marketable candidate; a visionary leader, a respectable academician with great knowledge of the new trends in world economic management' They would select a man of God who transcends the barriers of ethnic differences, a man who is going to serve his people and take them out of abject poverty to a better standard of living; a man who is youthful yet matured, a leader who is tried and tested in various fields of endevour; a diplomat with a great deal of international exposure and experience.? Commenting on recent opinion polls in sections of the media, Dr. Apraku said his campaign?s policy is not to rubbish polls from any institution or individual or a newspaper, but 'what is going on now clearly shows that some of these polls are being managed by some detractors of the NPP to favour their choice and so we can comment when we find such polls untenable enough.'

He said his campaign is not bothered on who is leading the race since the real decider is on December 22, 2007, but 'we are concerned about the ridiculous figures and unsubstantiated analyses these presumed-to-be research units are coming out with.'

He said he is 'leading in the three northern regions, Ashanti and Western regions by our in-depth research at the constituency level where the delegates would emerge. I come second in two other regions and fourth in the rest'

Dr. Apraku said he is the only presidential aspirant who has clearly written and published his vision and policy direction for the country. A booklet titled, 'My Vision for Ghana', he said, spells out issues such as Information and Communication Technology, Tourism, Industrialization, Education and Human Resource Development, Health, Energy, Agriculture, Women and Youth Development among other policies. As the December date draws closer, there would no doubt be more claims and disclaimers as await the denouement.