The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on his party’s regional and constituency executives, as well as parliamentary candidates from the Brong Ahafo Region to honour the memory of former Prime Minister of the Republic, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, with victory in the 2016 election.
A decisive majority in the popular vote, as well as securing the majority of parliamentary seats for the NPP in this swing region, according to Nana Akufo-Addo, will be a testament to the man whose vision and actions as Prime Minister of Ghana have, to a large extent, shaped Ghana’s development and deepened her democratic credentials.
“The victory of 2016 is going to honour Dr. Busia and the vision that he had for Ghana. Ghana free, Ghana prosperous, Ghana progressive. That was Busia’s vision. That is the vision that I, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, am fighting for,” he said.
We should be a majority party in Busia’s home region, Akufo-Addo stressed, adding that “the policies and programmes to bring prosperity to Ghana all lie with the NPP and with us being in government.”
The NPP flagbearer called on the people of the Brong Ahafo Region to have faith in him, stressing that “I am not in politics to enrich myself. They should have trust in me, have faith that I am coming to do a job for Ghana. We have the men and women to give this country a 1st class government. They should give me the opportunity to fix Ghana for all of us.”
Nana Akufo-Addo made these remarks on Monday, October 5, on day 1 of his 2-day tour of the Brong Ahafo Region, as he addressed a meeting of regional and constituency executives, as well as parliamentary candidates and their competitors from 15 constituencies of the Region. The constituencies were Sunyani East, Sunyani West, Tano North, Tano South, Berekum East, Berekum West, Jaman North, Jaman South, Dormaa East, Dormaa West, Dormaa Central, Asutifi North, Asutifi South, Asunafo North and Asunafo South.
Open door policy With the predominant economic activity in the Brong Ahafo Region being agriculture, with its attendant influx of settlers, the NPP flagbearer urged party faithful to operate an “open door policy” so as to improve the party’s relations with the settler communities.
“We must have a clean language with the settlers in Brong Ahafo. A language of solidarity, togetherness, fraternity, oneness and co-operation. This is the language we have to use for us to win their support,” he said.
He continued, “I am not coming for the Brongs, Ahafos, Asantes or Akyems. No! I am coming for all Ghanaians. Whether you are Kusassi, Dagari, Kotokoli, Kwahu, Ahanta or Fante, I’m coming to do a job for all Ghanaians so we all prosper together. We have no tribal agenda in the NPP. We only have a Ghanaian agenda.”
To all members of the NPP, he encouraged them to welcome each and every Ghanaian who wants to be a part of the party, maintaining that “everybody who wants to come to the NPP is welcome.”
To the former appointees, including former Ministers and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, under President Kufuor’s government, Nana Akufo-Addo assured them of a formal place in the campaign structure of the party ahead of the 2016 election.
I am encouraged by NPP’s support
On the prospects of an NPP victory in 2016, the NPP flagbearer stated that the presence of party ‘big wigs’, as well as his competitors from the October 2014 presidential primary, who have accompanied his across the country on his “Rise and Build Tour”, is a good sign of good prospects.
“Perhaps, God is working out something good for me and the NPP in 2016. I believe it is God’s plan at work considering all the people who are here with me this afternoon. Francis Addai Nimo, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku and Joe Ghartey are all here with me. Best of all, my arch-rival, Alan Kyerematen, is also here with me. This is a good sign,” he said, to a massive roar of approval from the packed auditorium at the Sunyani Polytechnic.
He continued, “I am asking all parliamentary candidates and aspirants to emulate what you are seeing here. Bring all your competitors on board and work hard towards ensuring that we win the majority of seats in the 2016 election.”
Nana Akufo-Addo was accompanied by NPP National Organiser, John Boadu; NPP National Women’s Organiser, Otiko Afisa Djaba; NPP Deputy General Secretary, Nana Obiri Boahen; 2nd Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Essikado Ketan, Hon. Joe Ghartey; former presidential aspirant and former Minister of Trade and PSIs under President Kufuor, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; former presidential aspirant and former Minister of Trade and Industry under President Kufuor, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku; MP for Mampong and former presidential aspirant, Hon. Francis Addai Nimo; Political Assistant, Francis Asenso-Boakye; Press Secretary, Eugene Arhin; Campaign Aides, Iddrisu Musah ‘Superior’ and Pius Hadzide, together with regional stalwarts like Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh, Brong Ahafo Regional NPP Chairman; Hon. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, former Minister for Local Government and former MP for Sunyani West; Hon. Ignatius Baffuor Awuah, former Brong Ahafo Regional Minister and MP for Sunyani West; Prof. Gyan Baffuor, former deputy Minister of Finance under President Kufuor and MP for Wenchi; and Kwadwo Yeboah Fordjour, former Brong Ahafo NPP Regional Chairman.
Nana Akufo-Addo will on Tuesday, October 6, take his tour of the Brong Ahafo Region to Techiman.
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