Chairman of the NPP, Freddie Blay, congratulates Akufo-Addo after filing the nomination
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged members of the New Patriotic Party, especially those contesting the party’s parliamentary primaries in the various constituencies, to follow laid down rules and ensure calmness ahead of the April 25 elections.
He said the primaries, which will take place on April 25, should be conducted in such a way that they do not thwart the impending victory of the NPP in the December general elections.
“Once that is done, we can focus on the 2020 elections where the real battle is,” the President said yesterday when he filed his nomination forms at the NPP headquarters at Asylum Down, Accra.
The President acknowledged the presence of the massive crowd at the party’s headquarters, saying the overwhelming support confirms the confidence the party has in.
No Mahama
Taking a swipe at former President John Dramani Mahama, the President said he has been wondering how the NDC flagbearer manages to go around asking Ghanaians to give him another four-year mandate to finish what he could not do as President.
“What did he do? Ghana was retrogressing under his watch as President. He is only coming to take us back again. We are moving forward. Ghanaians are discerning now. We won’t make that mistake again,” President Akufo-Addo said to a cheering crowd.
He added that he is yet to hear any single policy the NDC and Mr Mahama will be implementing, if voted into office.
“All he does is to criticise what my government does; is that how to build a nation?” he asked
Go out and register
The President asked his party members and supporters, as well as all Ghanaians, to take part in the upcoming voters’ registration to be undertaken by the Electoral Commission.
“Ensure that every eligible person who should register does so. Everybody must register because if you don’t do that, when the time comes for voting and your name is not in the register, you won’t be allowed to vote,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo said if members of the party go all out and vote, he believes he will make more than the five million votes he garnered in the 2016 elections.
“Still maintain, no change”
While acknowledging that, per the rules of the NPP, he is supposed to name his running mate after he has been officially unveiled by the party as the flagbearer, President Akufo-Addo indicated that Vice-President Mahamadu Bawuwia will remain his choice.
“This is something we should not take too much time to deliberate on. Once I’m given the nod to lead the party in the 2020 elections, my running mate will be Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. He is the one I will be leading the party with. Still maintain, no change, no curve, no bend,” he said.
Source: Daily Statesman
