Mahama’s only hope of retaining power is to rig polls – Akufo-Addo

The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says if there are any group of persons whose only hope of victory in the December 7 elections hinges on rigging, then it is the President of the Republic, John Mahama, and his Vice President, Kwesi Amissah Arthur.

Nana Akufo-Addo was responding to claims made over the weekend in Asawase by Vice-President, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, who stated that opponents of the National Democratic Congress are plotting to rig this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

However, in a sharp riposte on Tuesday, October 4, 2016, whilst campaigning in the Ablekuma West constituency, Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that this comment by the Vice President is an indication that “Mahama and Amissah Arthur have already thrown in the towel.”

According to Akufo-Addo, “what I know is that President Mahama and his Vice President own the copyright to the rigging phenomenon in Ghana. We in the NPP believe in multiparty democracy. If Amissah Arthur has seen defeat looming, I appeal to him not to say things that will anger Ghanaians. We beg of him.”

The NPP flagbearer was confident of victory in this year’s elections, and stated that the NPP would not need to rig this year’s elections, or bribe the electorate in order to win, stressing that “this year, Ghanaians are ready to ride on the back of the ‘Elephant’, and help the NPP do a job for Ghanaians in the Jubilee House.”

Nana Akufo-Addo assured the gathering at Shiabu, his first port of call in Ablekuma West, that “the issues pertaining to the fishing industry, which is on the verge of collapse, will be fixed by my government. Likewise, all I have said, including the reviving of the NHIS, the effective implementation of the Free SHS policy, 1-District-1-Factory to help create jobs, amongst others, God-willing, will be fulfilled when I win this year’s elections.”

He continued, “We have the men and women in the NPP who, when entrusted with the people’s mandate, will give this country a 1st class government, and return Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity, without discrimination.”

Nana Akufo-Addo added that victory in the 2016 election for the NPP is of the utmost necessity, explaining that “Ghanaians have become too miserable under this government. We are on a rich land and yet we are poor, all because of bad leadership. We (in the NPP) are coming into office to do a job for all Ghanaians.”

Urging the electorate to vote for the NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Hon. Ursula Owusu Ekuful, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that the only means by which the NPP elects its leaders is through elections.

“Win or lose (in NPP elections), you stay with the party. You have seen Alan Kyerematen here with me today. He contested the NPP presidential primary, and, yet, even though he wasn’t successful, he is here with me today campaigning. That is the hallmark of true blue NPP members,” Nana Akufo-Addo said.

With the NPP aiming at securing a decisive majority in the popular vote, as well as securing the majority of parliamentary seats, the NPP flagbearer appealed to NPP members and sympathisers not to entertain any thoughts of voting “skirt and blouse”, either in the presidential or parliamentary election in Ablekuma West.

He, thus, urged all NPP supporters in Shiabu to rally behind Hon. Ursula Owusu Ekuful and vote massively for her.