NPP race: Give me decisive victory - Akufo-Addo

Two-time presidential candidate of the main opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has asked delegates of the party to give him a decisive victory in the October 18 mega congress.

Akufo-Addo told delegates that it is important he gets that magnitude of support so as to be able to nudge off the current government in the 2016 national elections.

“If the NPP delivers a decisive margin of victory for me and elects me as its presidential candidate, it will send a strong indication to Ghanaians that the NPP is united behind Nana Akufo-Addo to fix the mess created by the NDC so as to bring relief, comfort and a decent standard of living for all Ghanaians”.

At a rally held at Abbey’s Park in the Asawase Constituency in Kumasi, to round off his tour of the Ashanti Region, Nana Akufo-Addo indicated to delegates gathered that he was confident about his chances of emerging victorious on Saturday considering the calibre of persons who, previously, were not supportive of his bid but are now supporting him.

According to Nana Addo, if NPP delegates gave him a 79% margin of victory in 2010 when at the time, key figures in the Ashanti region including: Mr. Kwasi Nti, NPP Chairman in Fomena constituency; Mr. Asare Bediako, NPP Chairman for Asokwa constituency; Mr. Yaw Amankwah, former Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman; Mr. Isaac Brenya, NPP Chairman in Asawase constituency; and Mr. George Kofi Agyei, NPP Chairman for Nhyiaeso, were not supportive of his bid, then he was confident of securing good victory now that these key figures are part of his campaign.

Additionally, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that the 740 delegates, majority of whom voted in his favour in the August 31 Special conference, did the will of their polling station and constituency executives, who had demanded that they vote for Nana Akufo-Addo.

“On August 31, a majority of delegates from the Ashanti Region and indeed across the country made it clear to me that they were going to vote for me because you, the polling station executives, had told them to do so. They listened to your demand and 81% of the delegates voted for me. In view of this and contrary to Sir John’s mantra of ‘fear delegates’, I can say with all confidence that ‘I trust NPP delegates’,” Nana Addo said.

He continued, “It is now your turn. In 2010, you gave me 79% and I plead with you to, at least, replicate this feat on October 18.”

“I am confident that come Saturday, when the results of the primary are announced, the votes from the Ashanti Region for me will be overwhelming. The heartbeat of NPP is in this region. This is the Region where the United Party (UP) traces its roots from. So I am appealing to you to vote massively for me to send a message that the people of the Ashanti Region are firm in their support for me,” Nana Akufo-Addo said.

He appealed to the remaining 19% of NPP delegates who did not cast their vote for him in the August 31 Special Electoral College to vote for him on Saturday, assuring the delegates that when he is elected as presidential candidate on Saturday, he will make sure that the NPP is returned to power in 2016.