Nana Akufo-Addo
The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has mocked attempts by pro-NDC newspapers to portray him as sick, and unable to campaign ahead of this year’s elections.
The Monday, July 11, 2016, edition of the Enquirer newspaper reported that the NPP flagbearer had, on Sunday, July 10, suspended his campaign tour of the Brong Ahafo Region due to ill-health, had been flown back to Accra, and was on admission at the hospital.
Additionally, the newspaper, once described as belonging to the “rented press” by former Attorney General, Martin Amidu, added that a warning has been issued to Akufo-Addo’s campaign team by his health handlers to ensure that he does not stay out after 5pm.
On Monday, July 11, whilst campaigning in Jema, in the Kintampo South constituency, Nana Akufo-Addo ridiculed the publication, describing it as laughable and a desperate sign of a party that has no message and clutching at straws in order to win an election.
“There is a publication in one of the NDC newspapers that I am sick and on admission in a hospital in Accra. Is the Jema lorry park a hospital? I did indicate, at the end of Sunday’s campaign (at Subinso, in Wenchi), that I had to attend to urgent business in Accra and would return on Monday. Here I am. To the NDC, at all cost I have to be sick. If I’m not sick, it means they have no message to campaign with and that would mean defeat for them in this year’s election. They seem to have invested all their political capital in my state of health,” he said.
The NPP flagbearer continued, “God is the One who looks after us all, and not the wishes of human beings. I am strong. As you see me now, do I look anything close to a sick person? The NDC is claiming that I am a very old man, who is unable to walk. I am fit, and full of strength to campaign and, if God so wishes, govern this nation in a proper manner.”
Nana Akufo-Addo urged the electorate of Kintampo South to vote for “a leader who has love for his country, and who is not into politics to steal the monies of poor Ghanaians and loot the coffers of the state. Vote for a leader who has policies and programmes to bring progress and prosperity to this nation, and who is flanked by able men and women who can deliver good governance to improve the livelihoods of Ghanaians.”
The NPP flagbearer will on Tuesday, July 12, round off his 5-day tour of the region, with a tour of the Nkoranza North and Nkoranza South constituencies, before beginning another 5-day tour of the Ashanti Region, beginning from Wednesday, July 13.
