Akufo-Addo retains Bawumia for Election 2016
The newly-elected presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has retained Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as his running mate for the 2016 presidential election.
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According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the nomination of his two-time running mate was unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed by the National Council of the party.
Briefing the media after a National Council meeting at the party’s headquarters in Accra yesterday, Nana Akufo-Addo said, “I am happy to tell you that there was unanimous and enthusiastic endorsement of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia a few minutes ago when I introduced him as my running mate for the 2016 elections to the National Council.”
‘Dr Prophet’
Describing Dr Bawumia as ‘Dr Prophet’, Nana Akufo-Addo told the media that he had been very lucky to have Dr Bawumia by his side since 2008.
He said Dr Bawumia’s credentials as a top notch economist were always known to all and had been reinforced by his analytical work and performance in Economics in the past five years, earning him the sobriquet ‘Dr Prophet’.
“It has been a joy to see him blossom as a consummate politician as well and win the affection of Ghanaians and we all know how the nation took to his performance in the witness box in the Supreme Court during the historic election petition. Dr Pinksheet is yet another of his names,” he stated.
In Nana Akufo-Addo’s view, Dr Bawumia would be an outstanding Vice-President, as the economy was always going to be the main battleground for the 2016 general election.
The dire situation the country had been plunged into by the “incompetence of the President John Dramani Mahama administration”, according to Nana Akufo-Addo, had made Dr Bawumia’s presence on the NPP presidential ticket even more appropriate.
“Luckily, there is real chemistry between the two of us as well and I look forward to us leading the team that will ensure an NPP victory in 2016.
“Dr Bawumia will be a good manager of the economy who will help me reverse the decline of the economy if the Almighty God and the Ghanaian people favour us with the opportunity of service, come January 2017,” he declared.
Extolling Dr Bawumia’s virtues, Nana Akufo-Addo said he would be an outstanding Vice-President who could work with other members of his (Nana Akufo-Addo’s) team to ensure good governance.
According to the presidential candidate, the need for co-operation after competition, which was aptly stated by Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen after last Saturday’s presidential primary as being at the heart of the NPP tradition, was in full swing.
Flag-bearer aspirants talking
After the first round of the August 31 NPP presidential candidate selection process, Nana Akufo-Addo said he had received the support and co-operation of Mr Joe Ghartey and Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, who made the shortlist of five but decided to drop out of the race to support him instead.
“I am in constant touch with them. After the Saturday, October 18 delegates congress, I have received with thanks and appreciation visits to my home from Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh and his wife and my man, Alan Kyerematen, both of them renewing their pledges of support and co-operation.
“Today, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku and Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng also came to visit me for the same purpose. We are all fully committed to the success of the NPP project for 2016,” he said.
Formal campaign
He hinted that the formal campaign team and its structure would be outdoored in due course after the necessary consultations had been concluded.
“Tomorrow, Dr Bawumia and I, together with the leadership of the party, will attend the afternoon prayers at the Central Mosque to pray with the Chief Imam for God’s blessings, and on November 4, the party will hold an interdenominational service at the National Theatre also to seek God’s blessings on the party and on our ticket and to thank Him for the peace and success of the primary,” he said.
Background
Dr Bawumia’s retention has confirmed what the public largely considered to be a foregone conclusion.
In attendance at the National Council meeting were former President John Agyekum Kufuor, a former Trade Minister, Mr Kyerematen; the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Paul Afoko, and a host of other bigwigs in the NPP.
Nana Akufo-Addo went into the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections with Dr Bawumia.
Even though they lost their bid narrowly, Nana Akufo-Addo, a former Attorney-General, has consistently maintained his confidence in Dr Bawumia.
Even before today’s endorsement, Nana Akufo-Addo had said that if he won the flagbearership of the NPP, he would maintain Dr Bawumia, reputed to be an excellent economist, as his running-mate.
Consistent with the pledge, he submitted Dr Bawumia’s name to the National Council at its meeting, after Nana Akufo-Addo had himself received overwhelming endorsement at the NPP delegates last week..
Unanimous endorsement
Dr Bawumia’s nomination was unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed by the National Council and readily accepted by the rank and file of the party.
This was quite unlike what happened in 2008 when the selection of the banker was vehemently opposed by some members of the party.
Party firebrand, Kennedy Agyapong, then said he would not campaign for the party, which was seeking to retain party after Kufuor’s eight-year rule, if Dr Bawumia was selected.
The presidential candidate stood his ground and settled on the renowned economist who has proved his worth and won the admiration of those who opposed his selection.
Reputed as a very intelligent man who has considerable knowledge of the Ghanaian economy, Dr Bawumia’s comments on and diagnosis of the local economy have always made the headlines.
The NPP certainly needs him to come up with alternative economic solutions to turn the Ghanaian economy around.
