The dwindling fortune of Mr. Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, one of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirants, took a further nosedive on Sunday, when his main rival, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo went to the very spot he (Alan) launched his campaign the previous day, and succeeded in wooing the delegates to his side.
Alan and his campaign team had gone to Abeka Lapaz, a popular suburb of Accra, which falls under the Okaikoi Central Constituency to launch his campaign, but failed to win the hearts of the delegates, who have now pledged their unflinching support to Nana Addo.
The 2012 presidential candidate, who received a rousing welcome, was assured of a resounding margin of victory by the delegates from the constituency, come October 18, when the party elects a presidential candidate for the 2016 election.
Leading the declaration and flanked by his constituency executives, Mr. George Commey, Chairman of the Okaikoi Central constituency, stated that “if Nana is contesting the primary, it is because we called on him to do so.
“We declare here today, September 14, 2014, that Nana Akufo-Addo is our choice. All 16 of us (constituency executives) are voting for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Our electoral area coordinators, together with the polling station executives who are all present here will vote for you. We will surprise you with the votes you will receive from Okaikoi Central on October 18,” Chairman Commey said.
This endorsement was met with a loud applause and a rapturous chorus of “Nana oo Nana,” “No Nana, No Vote," from the over 500 delegates and NPP sympathizers gathered at the venue.
Member of Parliament for the constituency, Hon. Patrick Boamah, in his remark to the delegates, indicated that “as a politician, I have done my survey on the 500 delegates, and I know the thinking on the ground.”
Likewise, he expected the aspirants in the upcoming presidential primary to conduct surveys on their chances and also “be guided by the voice of the grassroots. You must be convinced, do your survey and ask yourself what the voice of the people is,” he said, in reference to the other two aspirants in the flagbearership contest.
He urged the delegates of the party to revive the spirit of volunteerism, as the NPP is bent on embarking on a “practical campaign” which will ensure that President John Mahama becomes a one-term president.
“If you compare Nana Akufo-Addo’s CV and Mahama’s CV, no one will tell you who to vote for. You will advise yourself,” Hon. Patrick Boamah said to a rousing ovation from the delegates.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on his part, explained to the delegates that the “the results of the August 31st Special Electoral College is a reflection of who the NPP wants to lead the party.
Polling station executives elect constituency executives, who in turn elect regional executives and national officers. Those who voted on August 31 for Nana Akufo-Addo have said they did so because the polling station executives asked them to do so.”
“If out of 740 voters, who are largely founding fathers, constituency chairmen and regional executives, MPs, National Executive Committee and National Council members, some 81% voted for Nana Akufo-Addo, is it not a good indication of the will of the people?” he asked, to which delegates answered -“It is.”
Addressing the delegates, Nana Akufo-Addo also thanked them, firstly for the support of the Greater Accra Region, who gave him a 92% endorsement in the August 31 contest, and appealed to polling station and constituency executives to replicate the feat chalked by the “super delegates” from the region.
Nana Akufo-Addo recounted how he championed the expansion of the Electoral College of the party to include polling station executives, when other leading lights of the party protested strongly against the expansion.
“I am happy I did so. You now have the power to determine who the leads the party into an election and I appeal to you to vote for me on October 18. I am number 1 on the ballot,” Nana Addo said.
An NPP victory in 2016, Akufo-Addo noted will ensure that Ghana is put back on the path of progress and prosperity, as opposed to the situation many Ghanaians find themselves in, where “under the current handlers of the economy, everything is in a mess. There are no jobs for the youth, our healthcare and educational systems are in a mess.”
He appealed to the delegates to heed the call of Hon. Patrick Boamah and ensure that “we mount a practical campaign," explaining that despite the differences of opinion that may exist in the party over leadership, after the election of the leader, “we must all rally behind the winner. That is the NPP way, and we must continue to make that the NPP way.
“Ghana needs the NPP to present on 7th January, 2017, a government under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo that will solve the problems of this country,” he added.
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