President Akufo-Addo has reacted to the results from yesterday's by-election at Assin North.
The NDC's candidate, James Gyakye Quayson was declared winner of the by-election by the Electoral Commission (EC), Tuesday evening.
He garnered 17,245 of the total valid votes cast representing 57.56% beating his close contender from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Charles Opoku who had 12,630 votes representing 42.15 percent.
Speaking in a statement, the President told members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) "to keep their heads up"
He says, "In a democracy, there are winners and losers, and that we live to fight another day. We once held the Assin North seat, and I am confident that, sooner rather than later, Assin North will be blue again.”
"I urge members of my party, the New Patriotic Party, to keep their heads up, recognizing that, in a democracy, there are winners and losers, and that we live to fight another day. We once held the Assin North seat, and I am confident that, sooner rather than later, Assin North will be blue again.”
Meanwhile, he has congratulated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for winning.
“I congratulate the National Democratic Congress on its victory yesterday"
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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@ kwaku Poku, as you rightly quoted Bill Clinton, the economy is arguably the most important consideration for most Ghanaians except those in the Jubilee House perhaps. Bawumiah's usefulness to Ghanaians at this moment would have been to spearhead the much awaited economic prosperity. Unfortunately, he has rather superintended the worst ever economic situation in our lifetime. Granted external factors played any role, that should have even provided him the opportunity to showcase his economic prowess by an obvious prudent handling of things to avert or minimize the impact of the unforgivable harsh consequences that were rather unleashed on the ordinary people. What's the exception about Bawumia again to be NPPs best bet for 2024? He may be your preferred choice, that's ok, but I can guarantee that most of the people who bring NPP or NDC to power are not committed party members, they are floating, and there's a reason that they are so. They're smart people who critically analyse situations. The NPP would do themselves a better service by presenting a candidate who will not be automatically nauseating to most of the king makers!
@Dan and Koo, forgive me if I’m wrong but I think you are both npp sympathisers and you are worried that Mahama’s comeback is possible because of the leadership style of this government which Koo thinks will affect the fortunes of the Npp in the 2024 elections if Bawumia wins the Npp primaries.I think that the Npp best bet is still Bawumia to win the 2024 elections including helping the npp increase their parliamentary representation. I’m not being naive, I think the just ended Assin north election can not be the sole yardstick for the 2024 elections. James Gyekye Quayson is the most popular candidate in the Assin north and those who voted for him in 2020 were motivated and determined to vote for him again in the bye election. I do agree that the Npp should work extra hard to improve the economy as Clinton famously stated “it’s the economy ***barred word*** “. The battle is still the lord’s and it is possible with Bawumia.
@ Dan, such a comprehensive review of the issues at hand. Indeed the NPP that Kufour left was still attractive to Ghanaians, they still had the branding as "intellectuals" party and Ghanaians believed they were the better alternative. This was why Opana could boldly declare that they had the "men". It is clear that the person of Akufo Addo was largely the reason for their defeat in 2008 eventually. For them to lead in the first run, it was clear the party was popular, however, the NDCs propaganda then about the personality of Nana had sunk into the people. This notion was however eroded by 2016, coupled with the poor performance of the NDC, Ghanaians reposed so much confidence in Nana and Bawumiah. Today, having failed woefully, the impression about the NPP has changed dramatically, after all, they're not any better, there are no intellectuals, at best, the intellectuals left with Kufour or they've been sidelined. And the family and friends of Nana are not any better, and they have successfully relegated the NPP to the gutters. Such a dogmatic leadership type can never be appealing to Ghanaians. This man maintained over 100 ministers just to achieve this massive failure, even in the midst of glaring failure, he refused to sack or change his appointees against his own party's wishes. Given his recent "display" at a Durbar where a chief purportedly refused to rise up during the recitation of the national anthem where he was seen "ordering" his minister and the sort of indifference he has shown consistently against the cries of Ghanaians, it's clear what happens in his cabinet meetings. He's the apostle of politics, the epitome of wisdom, so nobody else's thoughts matters. And the whole NPP appears helpless about this? The worst of it is their efforts to cover up these shameful acts and still dancing to his gallery by attempting to impose his deputy on the party. What do they think? That majority of level headed Ghanaians cannot discern these things or that they love them so much that they will refuse to punish them in 2024? Time will tell! I will just advise them to prepare for the forthcoming defeat, the best they can do at this point will be to elect a leader who will help them reduce the massive losses ahead!
Masa, if Assin north is to turn blue then you have to put your ears on the ground and listen. Remember it's going to be the same electorate. For the NPP to lose 2,000 votes in this election compared to the 2020 elections figure should tell you people are not happy with your style of leadership. It is becoming obvious that you don't listen to advice. Kufour was in power for 8 years. Now, in the 2008 elections you stood on the ticket of the NPP and led with 49% in the first round. This is/ was a clear indication that the NPP was still the popular choice of the people after 8 years in office. Today can you guarantee same for whoever is going to take over from you as the flag bearer of the NPP with your style of leadership? Mahama wouldn't have thought of coming back to the political scene again. However he has seen a lot of loopholes in your governance style and that is what is motivating him to want to come back. Currently he's making a lot of inroads in the political space. Anyone who wins the NPP presidential primaries has a lot of work to do. First and foremost is how this person can convince the ordinary NPP supporter to make sacrifices again for the sake of the party considering the level of neglect, lack of recognition and the empty pride of some of your appointees not to talk of the generality of the Ghanaian people. Mahama is definitely not the alternative, fortunately for him however you have succeeded in making him look like a saint. People are wide awake now and they monitor what ever is happening. I keep saying fear people who are quiet, they can be very unpredictable. You only got to know the intentions of the people of Assin north after counting of the ballots by which time no amends could have been made. You were one person Ghanaians had lots of hope in to change the fortunes of this country thus the overwhelming endorsement you got in 2016 but it's becoming obvious that their hopes have been dashed. If what we saw in Assin north is anything to go by am afraid ' breaking the 8 ' will be a Herculean task and that what i meant by the willingness of the ordinary NPP supporter( remember they are in the majority) to 'kill' him or herself for the party. As to why you have a 'grandfather' in former president kufour but refuses to use him beats one's imagination. John Mahama has lost his 2 grandfathers in Mills and Rawlings. So one can say he's lonely. How will it look like if you were to hand over power to John Mahama in 2025 , the very man Ghanaians rejected and brought you in? If this were to happen, it means the Ghanaian electorate are telling you that between you and John Mahama, he ( John Mahama) is far better. Even though you will not be on the ballot in 2024 your actions and inactions is what will determine the fate of the NPP in 2024. Kufour and his appointees made the NPP so attractive, the appointees were aware the party was out government since 1972 so they needed to work extra hard to market the party. One would have thought the current appointees together with the presidency will continue from where kufour/ his appointees left off. Unfortunately it's like the NPP is standing still like an abandoned school block. It's no news that in every competition there must be winners and losers, fact however is , nobody goes into a competition with the aim of losing. If the NPP knew they were going to lose, bet me the people of Assin north wouldn't have seen the goodies that went there. You can't lose an election with a deference of 5,000 votes and still have your head up. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup hosted by Brazil, Germany defeated Brazil by 7-1 in front of their home crowd. How could anyone have told the Brazilans to still hold their heads up with that disgraceful performance? An incumbent government with state resources at it's disposal having difficulty convincing a voter population of some 30,000 people where simple majority vote is/was to decide the Winner only for an opposition party to beat you with over 5,000 votes and you say people should still keep their heads up? Masa, truth be told ,the NPP is not seeing top under your leadership . Something is wrong somewhere.