The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has told the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its delegates that whoever they choose as his successor will become the next president of Ghana after him.
The President was speaking at the party’s National Annual Delegates Conference in Kumasi yesterday.
He added: “The person you choose to succeed me will become President after I leave office”.
President Akufo-Addo said: “Some people want to tempt us but they cannot match us. We have what it takes to make us achieve what we want”, he noted.
According to him, “all Ghanaians are observing the conference” and, therefore, “I am pleading with you all to be disciplined. I also want you all to show unity among ourselves”.
“Let’s comport ourselves to ensure everything goes on smoothly”, the president urged, noting: “No party has been able to do what we have been able to do by organizing constituency and national delegates conferences”.
“We are also proving to Ghanaians that we are pioneers of democracy. I am, therefore, appealing to you all to be disciplined especially as it is happening in our stronghold.”
President Akufo-Addo also expressed reservations about the two-time rejection of his Chief Executive nominee for Juaben, Mr. Alex Sarfo Kantanka.
The nominee is currently being investigated by the Office of the Special Prosecutor for allegedly demanding a refund of the bribe he paid to the assembly members to buy their vote.
President Akufo-Addo said: “Anyone who opposes my nominee next time will incur my wrath”.
“I am here to congratulate the residents of Juaben for having this beautiful edifice. If it can be replicated in all 275 constituencies across the country, it will help the NPP a lot.”
Speaking about national issues, the president said: “I admit that Ghanaians are going through difficult times; some people are trying to say that it is my fault but you know that is not the case”.
“I am hopeful that if you all support the vision of this government, we will be able to turn things around.”
President Akufo-Addo has also dared former President John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress to show Ghanaians evidence of any thought through policy while in opposition.
The President said he is aware that Ghanaians are currently going through hardships but he is working to fix things.
“We have spent more money in improving the circumstances of our people than any government in the 4th republic. So when u leave here be proud that you have produced a government that has been most diligent in improving the lives of the people than any other government in the history of this country.
“All the things that we have done in government are things we thought about while in opposition, what is the one policy that the NDC and their leader John Mahama have thought about in five years that they have been in opposition. There is not one policy, the answer is zero,” the President said.
Bawumia
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia on his part, told supporters of the New Patriotic Party that ‘breaking the 8’ will be difficult but a possibility if they work together.
The Vice President said the NPP has an enviable track record of performance as compared to the opposition National Democratic Congress.
“Breaking the 8 will not be easy, it has not been done before in our history but if we stand together it is possible and it will be done,” he said a thunderous applause from party supporters.
Also, the Ashanti regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Patriotic Party Bernard Antwi Bosiako known popularly as Chairman Wontumi says Ghana is currently better than the United States of America and the United Kingdom because of the governance of President Akufo-Addo.
According to him, the progress Ghana has seen since the NPP won power in 2016 has been unprecedented.
“Ghana is now better than United States, Ghana is better than UK because of the development Akufo-Addo is bringing to Ghanaians, everyone can see it,” he said at the party’s ongoing National Delegates Conference in Kumasi.
J.A Kufuor
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor advised the leadership of the governing New Patriotic Party not to detach itself from the grassroots since doing so will destroy the democratic tradition of the party.
He said, “Under no circumstance must leadership become detached from the grassroots, since this will destroy the traditions of democracy in the party.”
Mr Kufuor also urged reconciliation among the rank and file of the party.
He said: “With unity and committed fellowship, the party and the government’s attractiveness would be urgently restored and deepened,” adding: “This will sustain the government through the year 2024.”
The former President also told the Conference to urge the party headquarters to urgently equip itself with a professional strategic team to ensure its opponents “do not outsmart us in the current battle of wits, which is obviously prevailing in the nation’s political arena”.
“This must be sustained through the year 2024.”
He called on members of the party to pray for God’s guidance and protection for the government in discharging its responsibility to the nation.
