If you quit NPP, we say 'thank you' – Akufo-Addo

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will say "thank you" to any disgruntled member, who decides to quit the party just because he may have lost an internal election, flag bearer Nana Akufo-Addo has said.

"Our party selects leaders though internal elections. I, myself, was elected through such a process. True party people stay with the party whether they win or lose. My colleague Alan Kyeremanten, who I beat in our primaries, is still here with me. He even speaks on my behalf. However, if you lose internal elections and you get disgruntled and decide to leave the party, then you are not a true NPP member.

"So, if you say you are quitting the party because you lost an election, we will say: 'Thank you very much for your services, you go, we will stay and fight the fight and make the way to bring the victory to the NPP.' We don't give up, we don't fret, come what may, we are solidly behind the Elephant," the three-time flag bearer told party members at a rally at Shiabu, Dansoman in the Ablekuma West Constituency on Tuesday, 4 October during his tour of the Greater Accra Region.

Mr Akufo-Addo also said his arch-rival, President John Mahama of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has done nothing to merit a second term in office.

"What has he achieved? Because there are no jobs, things are very expensive, no money in our pockets, school fees are exorbitant, electricity bills are unbearable, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is messed up. We are not going to allow Mr Mahama another term."

Speaking at the same event, incumbent MP for the constituency, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, who is seeking a second term in parliament said Ghanaians are tired of the corruption and thievery within government and urged the electorate to vote against President Mahama and the NDC.

"Are we going to allow them to continue with their thievery when there are no jobs and Ghanaians are suffering? Are we not tired of the corruption, lack of jobs, inability to pay our children's fees? It is time for us to change for development and prosperity," she said.

"It is time to vote for change, to vote for Nana Akufo-Addo, who God has ordained to come and deliver us from this suffering. I've worked with Nana Akufo-Addo and I know his mettle. He is capable. At his age, Nana Akufo-Addo is not taking care of children like some others are, for him to go stealing state funds to take care of his family. He is coming to fix the country for us."

According to her, the NDC and the Mahama administration only "know how to squander ill-gotten money but do not know how to fix the country".

Meanwhile, the party's Women's Organiser, Otiko Afisa Djaba, has urged supporters and members of the New Patriotic Party to protect the ballots in the December 7 polls with their lives.

Speaking at the same rally, Ms Djaba said: "They say they will rig the polls, will you allow them? You must protect the ballots with your lives."

"Don't be afraid," she told the crowd of NPP supporters, adding: "Ghana belongs to all of us, it's not for the NDC alone. ... We say the battle is the Lord's."

She urged party supporters to intensify their door-to-door and house-to-house campaigning so as to get more Ghanaians to vote for Mr Akufo-Addo as president in the polls.

She also told constituents in the area that incumbent MP Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, who is seeking re-election, is a "powerful woman" who deserves being in parliament.

"Ghana deserves Akufo-Addo and Ursula", she said, adding: "John Mahama is making all Ghanaians suffer. … We need change again."