Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw’s endorsement of his candidature as an important step in his campaign to lead the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the third time in the 2016 elections.
Osei Ameyaw, a Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman Thursday morning announced his decision to drop out of the NPP’s flagbearer race and lend support to Nana Akufo-Addo.
He explained that his decision was guided by the overwhelming support for Nana Akufo-Addo as exhibited at the recently held super delegates congress that shortlisted five candidates and rejected two for the final contest of who leads the party as flagbearer.
Nana Addo got over 80 percent endorsement by the about 800 delegates.
In Osei Ameyaw’s words, “To go contrary to this overwhelming decision of the majority would be to betray the unity path that the whole party craved for us.”
Mr Joe Ghartey, another presidential hopeful dropped out of the race last week but did not declare support for any of the remaining candidates.
This was after he had been selected among the remaining five candidates by the super delegates that rejected two other aspirants, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng and Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku.
The battle is now between Nana Addo, Alan Kyerematen and Francis Addai Nimoh.
The NPP has scheduled October 18, 2014 as the date to elect their flagbearer for the next general elections in 2016.
Responding to the latest development, Nana Addo said he was “very grateful for the gesture.”
“I am somewhat surprised. I arrived from Tamale today (Thursday) by plane to be informed that he (Osei Ameyaw) was having a press conference and that I should stand by to listen to what he had to say.”
“I can only say that it is an important step in the campaign”, Nana Addo said.
He expressed the hope that his inclusion was going to strengthen the campaign.
“It would be my intention and I hope it would be okay with him that he campaigns with me, so that we can present this front to the party and to the country that the NPP, contrary to what a lot of people want to put out are ready to work together”.
It is not about us, it is about our country, he stressed.
Turning attention on government, Nana Addo said, “We have a government that is not performing, that is not addressing the issues confronting our people. Our educational system is in a mess. Our health system is in a mess. Widespread unemployment in the country and our economy is in a serious state which is now meant that we have to go for an IMF bailout.”
Listen to Nana Akufo Addo response in the attached audio below
{mp3}akufo_Osei_Ameyaw{/mp3}
