The quest of Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, two times presidential candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), to lead the party for the third time after the October 18 congress has been handed a massive boost, following a last minute endorsement by the Ashanti Regional Youth Wing.
The youth wing has thus become the latest in a series of party wings to declare its support for the former presidential candidate to once again hold the party’s flag for the 2016 elections.
Barring any last minute changes, the opposition party will be holding a National Congress across the 275 constituencies to elect a flagbearer in what many believe will be a “Sheep and an Elephant” battle between Nana Akufo-Addo and his perennial rival, Mr. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen.
But, with less than two weeks to go, members of the youth say they have thrown their weight behind Nana Addo, and are banking on him to win power for the NPP come December 2016.
The youth wing made the declaration after youth games organised at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region to foster cordiality and reinvigorate the spirit of patriotism amongst its members.
In a statement signed by the Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser, Justin Koduah Frimpong, the group contended that Nana Akufo-Addo is the kind of super-structure that the overwhelming majority of the party delegates, supporters, floating voters and even disgruntled members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) are looking forward to turn the fortunes of this country for the better.
According to them, Nana Addo’s impeccable record as a true statesman, a true democrat, and a true patriot serve as a form of inspirational leader to the youth.
It noted that Nana Addo has continuously upheld and defended the rule of law and tenets of democracy, citing specifically, his approach to the outcome of the 2013 Election Petition brought before the Supreme Court.
The youth wing pointed out that Nana Addo has sacrificed and served the party’s tradition for over forty years now, stressing that “his passion and vision to transform Ghana into a prosperous country is peerless and matchless.”
“Though the foundation of a building determines its strength and lifespan, it is the super-structure that exhibits its beauty and market value. We believe that when the delegates at the various levels of our party were electing or appointing officers to various positions to serve as the foundation for the 2016, they had in mind the kind of super-structure they wanted, and that was certainly Nana Akufo-Addo,” the statement emphasised.
They said unlike the current President, John Dramani Mahama, Nana Addo’s incorruptible nature gives him the psychological urge to fight the menace as a leader. The youth indicated that they are fully aware that their decision may come as a surprise to many, and disapproved by other candidates, but they are of the conviction it is the best for the party at this time.
“Though our decision may come as a surprise to other presidential hopefuls, especially, those who hail from the region, we would implore them to take inspiration from Martin Luther King Jnr, that “we must accept finite disappointments, but we must never lose infinite hope; we love them and equally believe in their competence, but at the moment, it is Nana’s time, and hopefully their turns will come one day.”
The NPP Ashanti Regional Youth Wing stated that the country continues to swim in a pool of poverty and hardships in the midst of bountless oceans of human and natural resources, stressing that the President Mahama-led government has completely lost focus and is clueless, visionless and aimless as to how to solve the current economic crises.
The statement emphasised that the prosperous economy that former President Kufuor left this country in 2009 has been destroyed by a self-acclaimed youthful president. “At least, we are happy that he now agrees with us that knowledge and wisdom go with age; his public endorsement of 72-year-old Alassane Ouattara, the President of Ivory Coast, is a clear admission that Nana Addo’s presidency will definitely rescue this country from the kind of leadership paralysis which we find ourselves,” it noted.
