Accra, Aug. 8, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor last Saturday unofficially 'declared' Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo winner of the New Patriotic Party's historic elections two-hours before the official announcement by the Electoral Commission (EC).
"By the results, the delegates have decided emphatically that the electioneering campaign and competition is over, the winner is Nana Akufo-Addo", Former President Kufuor told supporters, media practitioners and some of the aspirants who had congregated at Efua Sutherland Children's Park anxiously waiting for the official results from the EC.
President Kufuor who was delivering a solidarity message acknowledged the keen competition among the five aspirants, stressing "I have never witnessed any intense intra-political competition in my entire 40-year-political life than what went on recently". He said through the emphatic vote of the delegates, the party had survived the pre-election fear of a possible break-away, "now the single purpose of the party is to regain power in Election 2012 to occupy the Jubilee House, seat of Government".
Former President Kufuor commended the other losing aspirants, Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Mr. Isaac Osei and Mr. John Kwame Kodua for their patriotism and healthy spirit of competition.
He called for unity and fortitude in order for the party to regain power in Election 2012 amidst wild jubilation.
Following President Kufuor's announcement of the winner, the National Chairman, Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey invited the losers to the podium for their concessionary speeches.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng described the election as an "exciting contest", and congratulated Nana Akufo-Addo for the resounding victory. Mr. Osei described the party's historic election as the beginning of the process for transforming the party into a modern democratic entity."we are ready to go into battle to regain power in Election 2012."
"Nana Akufo-Addo has achieved a famous victory, emphatic and unprecedented in the political history of Africa, I would support you all way through for the ultimate victory which is obvious. Today the contest is over and we have a winner". Mr. Kyeremanten declared: "I heartedly accept the verdict of the delegates and concede to my brother and friend Nana Akufo-Addo, and pledged my full support and commitment to the party to regain power in 2012".
"I urge all my supporters to work to make Nana Akufo-Addo, the next President of Ghana; we have fought a good fight and have proved to the whole world what grassroots democracy entails".
In his acceptance speech delivered at 21:35 hours before the official results were declared at 22:48 hours, Nana Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude to the teeming supporters, National Executive Officers, media and his campaign team for the victory.
He said: "the victory is far bigger than this simple man standing in front of you, it's a victory for the party, and democracy.I promise you, I would not let you down this time.NPP has spoken with one strong voice, the message is loud and clear, united and going forward for victory in 2012".
Nana Akufo Addo said the emphatic victory served as the greatest moment in his political life as it gave him and the teeming supporters the confidence to go into battle 2012 based on the records of Former President Kufuor.
He congratulated the other four aspirants for keeping the competitive nature of the NPP tradition.
