Politics is about ideas and not ethnicity or religion

Tamale, Sept.9, GNA- Mr. Mustapha Hamid, spokesperson for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cautioned against the dangers of introducing elements of tribalism and religion into the nation's politics.

He said politics was about the contest of ideas and the provision of capable leadership and not where one hailed from or which religion he or she belonged. Mr. Hamid gave the caution when he interacted with journalists in Tamale on Sunday to inform them of the intended visit of Nana Akufo-Addo to the Northern Region and to articulate his vision and plans for the country should he be nominated the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to contest Election 2008.

Mr. Hamid was reacting to a question as to why he a Northern was campaigning for Nana Akufo-Addo to become the flag bearer of the NPP. He said if factors such as tribe and religion were put into consideration in politics some regions stood in the danger of been marginalized and therefore urged Ghanaians to seriously guard against people who expressed such sentiments.

"If my father was in NPP and was not capable of winning power for the party I will not campaign for him", Mr. Hamid said. Nana Akufo-Addo's spokesman urged the NPP delegates who would be electing the party's flag bearer on December 22 to trace his track record of achievements and vote massively for him to lead the party to victory in the 2008 general elections.

He said, among all the contesting candidates Nana Akufo-Addo was the only one who had the qualities of been a true breed NPP, a democrat, a freedom fighter and above all, he added " He is a true leader, the complete candidate".

Mr. Hamid said apart from President John Agyekum Kufuor and former President J.J Rawlings, Nana Akufo-Addo was the next most popular politician in Ghana and therefore if he becomes the party's flag bearer he did not need much marketing, as he was already widely known.