Nana Addo: We can do it, we can do it together

THE 2012 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on the party's executives, parliamentary candidates and the rank and file to form a united front to ensure victory for the party in 2012.

He made the call at the start of his nationwide post-primary solidarity tour, dubbed “All Hands on Deck”, when he addressed party executives at the Breman Asikuma Constituency in the Central Region.

He told party members, “We can do it. We can do it together.” He thanked delegates, candidates and their supporters for listening to his pre-primary call for peaceful elections.

It is recalled that Nana Addo, the National Chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie and Campaign Manager Bokaye Agyarko last February went on a similar national tour to urge the party in all constituencies to ensure a peaceful and transparent primaries.

“It's obvious that you listened to me. You've honoured me and the leadership for listening to us. It shows a party of discipline. That leadership and fellowship are on the same page”, Nana Addo asked.

“We have now completed our internal reorganization by the peaceful and transparent selection of our parliamentary candidates and can now turn our attention fully to mounting a vigorous campaign that will bring victory for our party next year and relief to the mass of our people in 2013 and beyond,” he said.

He went on to congratulate “the party leadership at all levels, the aspirants, delegates and the entire membership of our party in the Central Region for the mature, competent and peaceful manner in which the whole exercise was successfully completed,” describing it as yet another evidence that “the New Patriotic Party continues to blaze the trail for Ghana's democracy.”

Nana Addo disclosed that a team was working on policies and programmes to build a new society of opportunities and transform Ghana into an industrial economy.

Fifty-one parliamentary candidates contested for the 19 parliamentary slots on offer in the Central Region. Four constituencies, however, produced minority winners who failed to obtain more than 50% of delegates' votes in their respective constituencies.

In light of this Nana Addo, asked all successful parliamentary candidates to bring on board all losers and their respective supporters, as this is the only way of ensuring total victory in 2012. A united and formidable front, in Nana Addo's opinion, will surely stand tall in 2012 and will result in victory for the party.

He urged losers of the parliamentary primaries to be guided by the principle that there is value in accepting defeat. Nana Addo recounted how the party's delegates rewarded President Kufuor and later in 2008 himself, after they had both lost their primaries in 1992 and 1998 respectively.

Nana Addo explained that, defeat should not stop a party member from working hard and being dedicated to the cause of the party as party delegates will surely reward such candidates in the near future.

On the NDC power struggle, the NPP flagbearer advised his party not to take sides. “Leave them to fight their own fight. Just observe and take useful notes. Whoever wins the July contest, the value is the same”, Nana Addo noted.

He, therefore, tasked the NPP to focus on what they have to do to secure the confidence of a safe majority of Ghanaians. The team will today take the solidarity message to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, ending the week in Sunyani in Brong Ahafo on Saturday. On Sunday, May 8, the team will be in Tamale in the Northern Region and will head to Bolgatanga in the Upper East on Monday, May 9. On Tuesday, May 10, the team will be in Wa in the Upper West Region.

The team then heads back southwards, `to take the message of unity of purpose to Koforidua in the Eastern Region on Thursday, May 12. On Friday, May 13, the message will go to the party in Tarkwa in the Western Region, where the team will spend an extra night to attend the funeral of a party activist, Kofi Yonkopa, at Ajakaa Manso, Amenfie Central.

The solidarity message will be taken to the Volta Region on Sunday, May 15, ending in the Greater Accra Region the next day, Monday, May 16.